Abstract: A network monitor in a multiplex control system monitors the condition of the network and individual modules of the system by causing individual modules in the system to generate, at regular time intervals, a unique identifying message and to monitor the identifying messages to individually determine the condition of the system.

Abstract: An interior door handle assembly for locking and releasing a door latch mechanism is connected to the door latch mechanism by a single push/pull operating cable. The latch mechanism has a release lever and a locking lever, the release lever and locking lever being pivotally mounted about axes which are parallel but spaced from one another. The push/pull cable is connected to the locking lever and the locking lever has a formation which, when the latching mechanism is in a latched but unlocked condition will extend into the path of the release lever so that upon movement of the release lever to release the latch mechanism, the formation will be engaged by the release lever to pull the cable. The formation is moved out of the path of the release lever when the locking lever is moved to lock the latch mechanism.

Abstract: A mounting system for securing a first component compliantly with respect to a second component has a flywheel mounted rigidly with respect to one of the components and compliantly with respect to the other component for rotation in a plane normal to the direction of movement of the first component towards the second component. One or more spring elements acting between the other component and the flywheel drive the flywheel upon movement of the first component towards the second component.

Abstract: A screw threaded fastener comprising a first member with an external screw thread and a second member with a corresponding internal screw thread. One of said first and second members has a radial bore, and the other of said first and second members has a corresponding recess, so that when the screw threads of the first and second members engage, the radial bore may be aligned angularly with the recess. A resilient pin assembly is provided having pins located in said radial bore. The pins are thus resiliently urged in said radial bore toward said recess, so that when the radial bore is aligned angularly with the recess, the pins engage the recess, preventing further relative rotation between the first and second members.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus for use in a vehicle includes bypass means for forming a bypass duct to allow the air which has passed through an evaporator to bypass an heater core, opening/closing means for opening and closing the bypass duct, and refrigerant control means for switching between a supply state in which refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator to a stop state in which the supply of the refrigerant to the evaporator is stopped based on a temperature of air having just passed through the evaporator. When it is determined that a physical amount relating to the temperature of the air introduced into a casing is greater than a predetermined amount and when the control state of the refrigerant control means is switched from the stop state to the supply state, the bypass duct is closed for a first predetermined time period by control means with the opening/closing means. In this way, it is possible to prevent the foggy air from being generated.

Abstract: A vehicle bonnet assembly has a bonnet hinged to the vehicle body by means of a hinge assembly including a first link pivoted intermediate of its extremities to the vehicle body and second and third links pivoted at one end, each to a different end of the first link, and at their other ends to the bonnet, the links being arranged such that when the bonnet is closed, the bonnet will move rearwardly upon an impact above a predetermined magnitude being applied to the leading edge of the bonnet, the links pivoting to lift the trailing edge of the bonnet, the bonnet pivoting between an open and closed position about the pivotal connection of the first link to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A roof latching device for latching a convertible folding roof to the header of the windscreen of a vehicle having a pull-to mechanism located centrally of the header, the pull-to mechanism including a hook element for engagement of a formation on the roof when the roof is located close to the header and acting to pull the roof firmly down onto the header, the latching device also including a locking mechanism located in the header on either side of the pull-to mechanism to lock the roof against the header after it has been pulled against the header by the pull-to mechanism.

Abstract: A head up display system for a motor vehicle includes a sensor, display means for forming a video image from the signals received from the sensor and a projection system for projecting the video image onto the windscreen of the vehicle, the projection system including a mirror for deflecting the optical path of the projected image, said mirror being located directly in front of a driver of the vehicle at a level outside the normal field of view of the driver through the windscreen, the mirror being arranged; in a head up display mode, to direct the projected image onto the windscreen; and in a non-head up display mode, to permit direct viewing of the video image at a level outside the normal field of view of the driver through the windscreen.

Abstract: A gear box mounting for a motor vehicle has a first member adapted to be mounted with respect to the vehicle gear box and a second member adapted to be connected to a sub-frame. The first and second members are interconnected by resilient elements inclined towards one another in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in order to provide vertical and lateral compliance of the gear box relative to the sub-frame. Buffering elements are provided between the first member and the second member and between the first member and the sub-frame to provide progressive buffering in the vertical upward and downward directions.

Abstract: An adjuster for the inboard outboard adjustment of a frameless side glass has a first block secured to a guide for the side glass adjacent the lower end thereof and a second block secured to a support panel. The first and second blocks have threaded apertures, the apertures being located coaxially of one another, the thread of one aperture being of opposite hand to the thread of the other aperture. A spindle has threaded portions one at each end, the threaded portions corresponding to and engaging the threaded apertures of the blocks and a hexagonal socket being provided in the end of the spindle by which the spindle may be rotated to move the blocks together or apart, thereby moving the lower end of the inboard or outboard relative to the support panel.

Abstract: A vehicle bonnet assembly includes a bonnet hinged to the vehicle body adjacent one edge and having a releasable catch adjacent an opposite edge, the bonnet being hinged to the vehicle body in a manner which will permit rearward movement of the bonnet when an impact is applied to the leading edge thereof, a lifting mechanism being provided to lift the trailing edge of the bonnet in response to rearward movement of the bonnet.

Abstract: A wind deflector for the sunroof of a vehicle has an elongate body located transversely of the vehicle along the leading edge of the sunroof aperture and extending above the level of the vehicle roof, the elongate body having alternating sections of different height, vane formations being provided between the upper edges of the taller sections to bridge the lower sections and to deflect air passing between the taller sections down through the sunroof aperture.

Abstract: A vehicle roof comprises a roof frame and a cover made of flexible material, the roof frame has a pair of main beams each beam extending longitudinally of the vehicle on either side of the passenger compartment, when the roof is erected; the forward ends of the main beams are interconnected by a canopy rail which is adapted to engage and be latched to a windscreen header of the vehicle; at least one bow spans the main beams at a position spaced longitudinally rearwardly of the canopy rail, said bow when the roof is erected extending above the common plane of the main beams; the main beams are hinged at one or more positions along their lengths and linkage mechanisms are provided on each side of the roof frame to control folding of the roof frame as it is moved between an erected and lowered position, power means is provided to move the roof frame between its erected and lowered positions; a linkage mechanaism is provided to retract said bow towards the common plane of the main beams during movement of the roo

Abstract: A vehicle bonnet assembly includes a bonnet hinged to the vehicle body adjacent one edge and having releasable catch means adjacent an opposite edge, the bonnet being hinged to the vehicle body in a manner which will permit rearward movement of the bonnet when an impact is applied to the leading edge thereof, a lifting mechanism being provided to lift the trailing edge of the bonnet in response to rearward movement of the bonnet.

Abstract: A cover for an airbag module of an air bag restraint system is formed by a single door which is mounted in front of the air bag module about horizontal pivots, the horizontal pivots are disposed on an axis positioned intermediate of the horizontal edges of the door, so that upon opening of the door a portion of the door will move to the air bag module side of the pivot axis thereby reducing the extent to which the door extends to the other side of the pivot axis when open, fastening means being provided to maintain the door in its closed position, until a predetermined load is applied thereto upon expansion of the air bag.

Abstract: A door seal is formed as an elongate strip of resilient material, the strip defining a body section having formations by which it may be secured around a door opening so that it is disposed inboard of a sideglass of the door when the door is closed and the sideglass raised; a lip section extending outwardly from the body section, the lip section being joined to the body section by a root portion and having a tip at the end remote from the root portion, the tip being directed back towards the body section such that when the door is closed with the sideglass raised, the tip will be deflected inwardly towards the root portion and the lip section will engage the sideglass on its outer surface.