Abstract: A seat assembly for a motor vehicle includes a seat cushion and an output shaft rotatably coupled to the seat cushion. An actuator is fixedly coupled to the seat cushion and operatively coupled to the output shaft for rotatably driving the output shaft. A front leg is operably connected to the actuator for movement between a support position supporting the seat cushion and a retracted position folded underneath the seat cushion. A front latch is mounted on the front leg and is positioned to selectively engage a striker bar along a motor vehicle floor for maintaining the front leg in the support position. A link assembly extends between the output shaft and the front latch for selectively unlocking the front latch as the output shaft is rotatably driven by the actuator to drive the front leg between the retracted position and the support position.

Abstract: An interior trim component, such as a headliner, includes a decorative covering, a substrate and a piece of a material, such as foam material, placed between the decorative covering and the substrate. After the molding process, the piece of material expands due to its resiliency to form a raised relief in the decorative covering, thereby providing a headliner with an embellished appearance. The method of manufacturing the embossed headliner requires no special tooling and is very cost effective.

Abstract: An assembly includes a housing, one or more telescoping brackets movably secured to the housing, and a door portion movably secured to the housing and the one or more telescoping brackets. A method for providing increased access to a storage compartment includes the steps of movably joining one or more telescoping brackets to a housing, movably joining a door portion to the one or more telescoping brackets and the housing, and moving the door portion to cause the one or more telescoping brackets to telescopingly project the door relative housing to provide access to a storage compartment.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly adapted to be removably coupled to a floor in a vehicle is provided. An electrical component is mounted to the seat assembly. A riser assembly is also mounted to the seat assembly. A first electrical connector is mounted to the riser assembly and electrically coupled to the electrical component. A second electrical connector is adapted to be mounted to the floor. The first electrical connector linearly slidingly engages the second electrical connector as the seat assembly is secured to the floor for electrically coupling the first electrical connector with a vehicle power source.

Abstract: The present invention is an accessory jack for use in an interior panel of an automobile, having a rotating assembly, including two or more sides. An accessory jack is operably associated with the rotating assembly and a pivot point. In a first embodiment, the pivot point is located in the center of the rotating assembly equidistant from the two or more sides, along a substantially vertical axis. In a second embodiment, the pivot point is located where one of the two or more sides connects to another of the two or more sides, along a substantially vertical axis. The rotating assembly rotates about the pivot point, exposing the accessory jack, making the accessory jack available for use.

Abstract: A pivot bushing for insulating a pivot shaft and component pivotally mounted to a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle. The pivot bushing comprises a circumferential planar rim having an inner surface defining a bushing aperture and an outer surface defining a bearing surface. The inner and outer surfaces extend between an upper edge and a lower end. An upper flange projects outwardly from the upper edge of the rim and about the perimeter of the outer surface and a lower flange projects outwardly from the lower edge of the rim and about the perimeter of the outer surface defining a channel formed between the outer surface, upper flange and lower flange for receiving and insulating the component from the pivot shaft.

Abstract: A seat assembly is adapted to be coupled to a vehicle floor and includes a seat back (16) and a seat cushion (12). The seat back is pivotally coupled to a support bracket (50) mounted to the floor. A fold flat mechanism (58) includes a transfer link (60) pivotally coupled to the support bracket, a seat cushion link (68) coupled between the seat cushion and the transfer link, and a seat back link (76) coupled between the seat back and the transfer link for transferring pivotal movement of the seat back through the transfer link to the seat cushion link to automatically move the seat assembly between a seating position wherein the seat back is in an upright position and the seat cushion is spaced above the floor, and a stowed position wherein the seat back is pivoted to a fold flat position overlying the seat cushion and the seat cushion is lying flat against the floor.

Abstract: A rear seat assembly is provided for supporting occupants. The seat assembly includes a seat cushion. A pair of spaced apart outer seat backs is pivotally secured to the seat cushion. A middle seat back is pivotally secured to the seat cushion and disposed between the pair of outer seat backs. Each of the pair of outer seat backs includes a pair of spaced apart bolsters pivotally hinged thereto for movement between a retracted position and a deployed position. Each of the outer seat backs also includes an actuating mechanism operatively connected between the pair of bolsters for moving the pair of bolsters between the retracted and deployed positions as one of the outer and middle seat backs pivots relative to the seat cushion.

Abstract: A vehicle seat has a seat back and a seat cushion and a pair of recliners hingedly mounting the seat back to the seat cushion providing pivotal movement of a seat back relative to a seat cushion. Each of the recliners has a guide plate configured to be mounted to the seat cushion and a toothed plate rotatably assembled to the guide plate. The toothed disc has a flange having a series of internal teeth thereon. A plurality of pawls is mounted between the toothed plate and the guide plate. The pawls each has a toothed surface and is moveable between a locked position with the toothed surfaces engaging the series of teeth to lock the toothed plate relative to the guide plate, and an unlocked position with the toothed surfaces spaced from the teeth of the guide plate to allow movement of the toothed plate relative to the guide plate. A plurality of guides extends from the guide plate, guiding the pawls between the locked and unlocked positions.

Abstract: An automotive component (10) and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The component (10) comprises a core portion (14) formed of a first material and a second portion (18) integral with the core portion (14) and formed of a second material. In one illustrated embodiment, the first and second materials have different material property characteristics. For example, the first material can be made of a relatively harder plastic material than the second material made of a softtouch plastic material. The method for manufacturing the component comprises the steps of injecting the first material into a first cavity of a mold to form the core portion (14), altering the mold cavity to form a second cavity and injecting the second material into the second cavity while the first material is in a reactive state to form the second portion (18) of the component. Because the first material is in the reactive state, the second material is integrally formed with the first material.

Abstract: A retractable roof assembly (53) is provided for a motor vehicle (10) having a rear seat (24) and spaced apart roof side frame members (30) defining a roof opening (31). The retractable roof assembly (53) includes a split rail assembly (33) having a fixed rail (34) adapted to be fixedly secured to each of the roof side frame members (30) and extending along a portion thereof, and a movable rail (40) extending rearward of the fixed rail (34) along a remaining portion of each of the roof side frame members (30). A plurality of roof panels (58, 60, 62) extends between the roof side frame members (30) and slidably engages the split rail assembly (33) for selective movement into a stacked configuration above the movable rail (40).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle seat (2) comprising a seat part (6) which may be moved by means of a seat part mechanism (20) from an operating position into a non-operating position, a backrest (4) which may be swiveled by means of a backrest mechanism (8) about a swivel pin (10) in the direction of the seat part (6), and a coupling element (44) for coupling the movement of the backrest (4) to the movement of the seat part (6), the coupling element (44) cooperating with the backrest mechanism (8) and the seat part mechanism (20) such that the coupling element (44) exerts a tensile force on the seat part mechanism (20), in order to move the seat part (6) from the operating position into the non-operating position.

Abstract: A wiring harness for connection to a body, the wiring harness includes at least one conductor and a protective covering having an inner portion for insulating the at least one conductor and an outer portion arranged over a region of the inner portion, wherein at least a section of the outer portion is adapted to be fused to said body.

Abstract: Described herein is a door for a motor vehicle provided with a supporting framework, supporting means for supporting an external rear-view mirror, a lock, and a key assembly, which is operatively connected to the lock and can be selectively actuated via a control key for disabling/enabling opening of said lock from the outside of the motor vehicle. The key assembly is rigidly fixed to the framework, and is covered, towards the outer side of the door, by the means for supporting the rear-view mirror and is accessible from the outside through a seat made in the supporting means themselves.

Abstract: A seat storage assembly is provided for an automotive vehicle having a floor, a roof, and a rear liftgate extending between the floor and the roof. A pair of spaced apart and parallel tracks is disposed along the floor and extends between fore and aft ends. A recess is formed in the floor rearward of the aft ends of the tracks. A second row seat is slidably engaged and pivotally coupled to the tracks for moving between forward and rearward seating positions, and a stowed position within the recess. A third row swing seat is pivotally coupled to the roof for moving between a seating position and a raised stowed position. Moving the third row swing seat into the raised stowed position enables the second row seat to move between the forward and rearward seating positions, and the stowed position within the recess.

Abstract: A locking device is provided for preventing a motor vehicle door from opening when a handle portion of a handle assembly moves with acceleration above a predetermined threshold relative to a base thereof. The locking device includes a lock cup fixedly secured to the base and having a plurality of teeth. The locking device also includes a spool rotatably coupled to the lock cup and operably connected to the handle portion. The spool includes a pawl rotatably mounted thereto. The locking device further includes an inertia element disposed between the lock cup and the spool. The inertia element is coupled to the pawl such that upon the acceleration above the predetermined threshold the inertia element lags rotation of the spool and forces the pawl into engagement with one of the plurality of teeth to stop movement of the handle portion relative to the base and prevent the door from opening.

Abstract: A seat assembly for an automotive includes a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion. A riser mechanism extends between the seat cushion and a vehicle floor. The riser mechanism includes spaced apart front, center, and rear legs each pivotally movable at opposing upper and lower ends. A latch mechanism is operably coupled to each of the center legs for movement between a latched position preventing movement of the front, center, and rear legs relative to the floor and an unlatch position allowing pivotal movement of each of the front, center, and rear legs relative to the floor for moving the seat assembly between a seating position and at least one of an easy entry and forwardly dumped positions.

Abstract: A trim set attachment assembly is provided comprising a retaining strip attached to a mesh panel encapsulated within a seat frame, and at least one tab extending from the trim set and securedly seating between the retaining strip and the mesh panel, thereby securing the trim set in relation to the mesh panel. The tab includes a trim piece seated within an anchor. The trim piece extends from the trim set to seat beneath the retraining strip atop the mesh panel, while the anchor prevents the trim piece from sliding out from under the retaining strip. The retaining strip includes a base, with at least one retainer extending from the base to secure the trim piece therebeneath. The retaining strip further includes a flange, with at least one connector extending through the mesh panel and the flange to connect the retaining strip to the mesh panel.

Abstract: A seat track assembly is provided for adjusting a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle having a lower track (12) having a plurality of locking windows (74), an upper track (14) slidably mounted to the lower track and having a plurality of first (70) and second (72) support apertures. A locking mechanism (80) is operatively coupled between the lower and upper tracks. The locking mechanism includes a plurality of pins (88) movable in and out of a locked position, wherein the pins project through the locking windows and are supported by the first and second support aperture in a double shearing condition to prevent sliding adjustment of the upper track relative in the lower track.

Abstract: A seat assembly (10) for supporting an occupant above a floor in a vehicle includes a seat cushion (12) coupled to a pair of spaced apart risers (20, 22) extending between forward (24) and rearward (26) ends and a seat back (16) pivotally coupled thereto. A rocker mechanism (58) selectively angularly adjusts the seat cushion (12) relative to the floor. A first pivot (70) pivotally connects the rearward ends (26) of the risers (20, 22) to the floor. A sector gear (92) is pivotally coupled to the riser adjacent the forward end and includes a mounting pin (94) offset from the pivotal connection. A rocker link (96) extends from a first end pivotally coupled to the floor and a second end pivotally coupled to the mounting pin (94) for guiding the forward ends (24) of the risers (20, 22) during pivotal movement about the first pivot (70). A pawl (102) is pivotally coupled to the rocker link (96) for selectively engaging the sector gear (92) to maintain the angular position of the seat assembly (10).