Abstract: A seat complete measuring system (10) for measuring the efforts and range of travel of any movable component on a seat assembly (12) comprises a seat positioning station (24) for supporting and positioning the seat assembly (12). The seat positioning station (24) includes a planar support platform (26) for fixedly securing and supporting the seat assembly and an indexing mechanism supporting the support platform for rotating platform between one of a plurality of indexing positions. A multi-axis measuring station (46) is supported at a predetermined position adjacent the seat position station (24) for cooperating with the seat assembly (12).

Abstract: An inflatable restraint module comprises an inflatable restraint canister including an inflatable restraint, an instrument panel, and a mechanism for interlocking the instrument panel to the inflatable restrain. The mechanism includes an attachment portion attached to a chute of the inflatable restraint module, a shaft portion extending from the attachment portion, and an engagement flange extending from the shaft portion. Upon upward displacement of the chute as a result of deployment of the inflatable restraint, the mechanism concurrently shifts with the chute, causing the engagement flange to shift from a free-floating, at-rest position to an engagement position with a structural member. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint module comprises an inflatable restraint canister including an inflatable restraint, an instrument panel including an inflatable restraint door, and a structural reinforcement member that maintains proper deployment of the inflatable restraint. The structural reinforcement member is attached to an inflatable restraint chute that extends from the instrument panel at a first location and is attached to the structural member and the instrument panel at a second location. Upon deployment of an inflatable restraint, the structural reinforcement member goes into tension, thereby causing the structural reinforcement member to relieve stresses imparted to the instrument panel. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: A linear recliner for a vehicle seat assembly providing selectively lockable pivotal adjustment of a seat back pivotally coupled to a seat cushion between a plurality of reclined seating positions. A housing is fixedly secured to the seat cushion. The housing includes a bore extending between front and rear ends of the housing. A chamber is formed within the housing adjacent and open to a portion of the bore. A rod extends between one end pivotally coupled to the seat back and an opposite end slidably carried within the bore of the housing for axial displacement of the rod within the bore during pivotal movement of the seat back. The rod includes a rack of teeth extending towards the chamber. A pawl lockably engagable with the rack of teeth in the rod for preventing axial displacement of the rod within the bore is pivotally coupled to the housing for movement in and out of the locking engagement with the rack of teeth in the rod.

Abstract: A vehicle trim component includes an articulated door with a flexible integral handle latch. The integral handle latch includes an integrally molded hook portion that positively engages a lip portion of a storage bin. The articulated door also includes a flex point permitting selective deployment of the articulated door, such as a tambour door. Upon pushing the handle latch in a predetermined direction with a predetermined force, the predetermined force is directly transmitted to the flex point in order to cause pivoting movement of the integral handle latch that permits deployment of the articulated door. If a force is applied in a direction other than the predetermined direction, deployment of the articulated door does not occur and the articulated door is retained in a latched position. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: A latch mechanism for an automotive storage compartment includes a release button, a pair of arm members operatively coupled to the release button, a first cam surface disposed between the arm members, a pivotally-mounted cam member including a second cam surface capable of engaging the first cam surface, and a torsion spring including first and second legs. The first leg contacts one of the arm members and the second leg contacts the cam member. Movement of the release button from a first position to a second position causes of the cam member to pivot in a first direction, and movement of the release button from the second position to the first position causes the cam member to pivot in a second direction. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: A dual recliner assembly for a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle for providing selective locking and pivotal adjustment of a seat back relative to a seat cushion between a plurality of reclined positions. The dual recliner assembly includes spaced apart outboard and inboard recliners each movable between a locked position to hold the seat back in one of the plurality of reclined positions and an unlocked position to allow pivotal movement of the seat back relative to the seat cushion between the plurality of reclined positions. Both the outboard and inboard recliners include respective outboard and inboard shafts for moving the outboard and inboard recliners between the locked and unlocked positions. A rod extends between an outboard end fixedly secured to the outboard shaft and an opposite inboard end coupled with the inboard shaft for moving the inboard recliner between the locked and unlocked positions in response to movement of the outboard recliner between the locked and unlocked position.

Abstract: A head restraint pivot latch for a seat assembly allowing pivotal adjustment of a head restraint relative to a seat back. A base member is pivotally assembled to the seat back allowing movement of the head restraint between a use position and a folded position. A first bracket having an index slot is fixedly assembled to the base member. A second bracket having a locking slot defining the use position extends between a proximal end pivotally assembled to the base member and a distal end fixedly secured to the seat back. A button having a tang and a tang slot is movable between the use position, with the tang extending through both the index slot of the first bracket and the locking slot of the second bracket, and a released position with the second bracket slidably engaged within the tang slot, allowing pivotal movement of the head restraint between the two positions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a trim part, such as an airbag cover, under low pressure conditions is disclosed. The trim part includes a skin material, a scrim material, and a substrate. A mold tool comprises a first half and a second mold half. The method comprises the steps of injecting molten substrate material into one of the mold halves and partially closing the mold halves to a predetermined distance such that the molten substrate material is properly spread within the cavity of the mold tool under low pressure conditions. The molten substrate material encapsulates the scrim material and integrally bonds the scrim material to the skin material. In one method of the invention, a frame member is placed on one of the mold halves to form a groove that pre-weakens the trim part to form an airbag door for an airbag cover in one cycling operation.

Abstract: A seat assembly mounted on a floor of a motor vehicle includes a seat cushion having a seat cushion frame operatively secured to the floor. The seat assembly also includes a seat back having a seat back frame including side members and an upper crossmember extending between the side members fixedly secured to the seat cushion frame. A recliner mechanism is fixedly secured to the seat cushion frame for pivotally moving the seat back relative to the seat cushion, and an armrest is connected to one of the side members. In addition, a bracket includes a base and first and second mounting arms extending out from the base. The base is fixedly secured to one of the side members. The armrest is secured to the first mounting arm and the recliner mechanism is secured to the second mounting arm such that the bracket maintains a predetermined distance between the armrest and the recliner mechanism.

Abstract: An attachment clip includes an inner body portion and an outer body portion separated by a cavity, and a secondary spreader located between the cavity and a bottom of an elongated cavity. The secondary spreader is located along an axis passing through the cavity and the elongated cavity to increase the flexibility of the inner and outer body portions. The attachment clip is integrally formed of the same material with a substrate by using an injection molding process, or other similar process, thereby eliminating the need for additional fasteners to attach the attachment clip to the substrate.

Abstract: A retention clip for securing a trim piece to a vehicle. The retention clip includes a trim piece affixing portion, a first leg member, and second leg member that extends from a head portion. The trim piece affixing portion is defined by at least one pair of grips that includes a plurality of retention barbs. Each first and second leg member is defined by a first leg portion, an intermediate knee portion, and a second leg portion. Each second leg portion is defined by a first and second length and a first and second deployment angle, respectively. The retention clip has a resilient retention feature that allows the retention clip to deform inwardly to during installation, then outwardly when affixing a trim piece to a vehicle in order to provide a perpendicular biasing force and a later, outboard biasing force.

Abstract: An attachment washer assembly for aligning and fastening an attachment bracket (32) to a floor panel (20) has a first member (40) having a tubular ring (44) extending from a cylindrical flange (42) and a second member (5) having a tubular ring (54) extending from a cylindrical flange (56). The ring of the first member is frictionally fitted within the ring of the second member retaining the attachment washer assembly within a preformed aperture formed in the attachment bracket. The flanges slidingly engage the peripheral side portions of the bracket along opposing sides of the aperture. The ring (54) of the second member has an outer diameter which is less than the diameter of the aperture and the flanges (42, 56) having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the aperture such that the attachment washer assembly is moveable within the preformed aperture for alignment with an aperture in the floor panel to receive a fastener therethrough and secure the bracket to the panel.

Abstract: A bridge assembly for supporting a seat in a motor vehicle having opposing B-pillars and a floor extending therebetween. The bridge assembly includes a rear cross car beam having a rear length extending between a rear driver end and a rear passenger end. The rear driver and rear passenger ends are fixedly secured to each of the B-pillars such that the rear cross car beam extends over the floor spaced apart therefrom. A front support structure is spaced forward of the rear cross car beam. In addition, the bridge assembly includes a crossing support extending between the rear cross car beam and the front support structure for strengthening the bridge assembly.

Abstract: A recliner assembly for operatively interconnecting a seat back and a seat cushion allowing pivotal adjustment of the seat back relative to the seat cushion. The recliner assembly comprises an inner disc fixedly secured to the seat cushion and an outer disc fixedly secured to the seat back. The outer disc is rotatably nested within the inner dis and includes an annular rim of gear teeth extending radially inwardly. At least one pawl is adapted for lockingly engaging the annular rim of gear teeth on the outer disc and is disposed between the inner and outer discs. The pawl is radially moveable between a locked position, wherein the pawl is lockingly engaged with the annular rim of gear teeth on the outer disc, and an unlocked position, wherein the pawl is disengaged from the annular rim of gear teeth on the outer disc. A biasing member extends between the pawl and the inner disc for biasing the pawl in the locked position.

Abstract: A seat assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising a main support frame adapted to secure the seat assembly to the floor of the vehicle. A seat cushion is rotatably journaled to the main support frame for rotation between a seating position and a fold flat position rotated generally 180 degrees about the frame. A seat back is pivotally coupled to the main support frame for rotation between a generally upright seating position to a fold flat position aligned generally flush with the seat cushion in the fold flat position. A lower track is fixedly secured to the main support frame and an upper track is fixedly secured to the seat back and slidably secured to the lower track. An automatic fold mechanism is operatively coupled between the upper track and the seat cushion for automatically rotating the seat cushion between the seating position and the fold flat position in response to fore and aft sliding movement of the upper track along the lower track.

Abstract: A retention clip for securing a trim piece to a vehicle. The retention clip includes a trim piece affixing portion, a first leg member, and second leg member that extends from a head portion. The trim piece affixing portion is defined by at least one pair of grips that includes a plurality of retention barbs. Each first and second leg member is defined by a first leg portion, an intermediate knee portion, and a second leg portion. Each second leg portion is defined by a first and second length and a first and second deployment angle, respectively. The retention clip has a resilient retention feature that allows the retention clip to deform inwardly to during installation, then outwardly when affixing a trim piece to a vehicle in order to provide a perpendicular biasing force and a later, outboard biasing force.

Abstract: A seat assembly (10) for a vehicle having an anchor (16) for a child seat (15) disposed between a seat cushion (12) and a seat back (14). The invention is characterized by a cover (17) movable into a retracted and closed position between the seat cushions (12) and the seat back (14) covering the anchor (16) and out of the retracted position to an extended and fully open position out from between the seat cushions (12) and seat back (14) exposing the anchor (16) for attachment to the child seat (15). The cover (17) includes guide slots (34, 36) for slidably receiving side portions (50) of the anchor (16) and a ramped surface (60) automatically moves the lid (20) from the closed position to the fully open position in response to the housing (18) moving relative to the anchor (16).

Abstract: A tunnel cord assembly for removably attaching a trim cover to a contoured, cellular foam pad is comprised of a selvedge strip slidably encasing the cord and a bayonet-type fixture at the ends of the cord. The selvedge strip is sewn to the trim cover, which attaches to the foam pad. The foam pad includes a front surface, an opposite back surface, a plurality of trenches and a plurality of holes within the trenches. Each end of the tunnel cord is pulled through a hole that extends through the foam pad from the front surface, which is covered by the trim cover, to the back surface. A locking device is then removably coupled between the back surface of the foam and the bayonet-type fixture, preventing the cord from retracting through the hole back to the front surface of the pad, and thereby securing the trim cover to the foam pad.

Abstract: A seat assembly for use in an automotive vehicle comprises a generally horizontal seat cushion for supporting a seat occupant on the seat assembly and a seat back (36) pivotally connected to the seat cushion by a recliner (38) for pivotal movement between a generally upright position and a fully reclined position relative to the seat cushion. The seat assembly includes a head restraint (26) pivotally coupled to the seat back for pivotal movement between a normal position when the seat back is in the upright position and a forward angled position relative to the seat back when the seat back is in the fully reclined position to support the seat occupant's head. An adjustment mechanism comprises a guide plate (90) slidably coupled to the seat back for pivoting the head restraint between the normal position and the forward angled position.