Abstract: A beam for a vehicle bumper is formed from a continuous web of material as a closed tubular body. The body has top and bottom walls connected by inner and outer walls. A support extends between the inner and outer walls and a reinforcement overlies at least a portion of the outer wall between the support and the bottom wall to provide a double walled structure.

Abstract: A door check for an automobile has an arm with a cam formed between oppositely directed flanks. A unitary energy storage component cooperates with the arm to provide progressive resistance to opening and closing and a plurality of stable positions. The unitary energy storage component includes a pair of springs, each connected to shoes that bear against the flanks and load the springs in torsion as the shoes moves along the cam. The unitary energy storage component is formed as an integral unit to facilitate handling and assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper assembly includes a main body, a shaft assembly and a main piston operatively configured to define an upper portion and a lower portion within the main body. A hydraulic damper spool valve is adapted to provide a single path, variable hydraulic flow restriction between the upper portion and lower portion of the main body. The hydraulic damper spool valve is configured with an array of precisely shaped flow apertures that are proportionally opened and closed by a pair of valve spools in response to the pressure differential across the main piston. The damper's pressure-flow operating characteristic is simply and predictably dictated by the geometric configuration of the shaped flow apertures. The precisely defined open area of the shaped flow apertures provides a mathematically predictable hydraulic flow restriction that operates predominately in a turbulent regime resulting in insensitivity to hydraulic fluid viscosity and consequently temperature change.

Abstract: A twist beam is manufactured from a tube and has a shorter sectional perimeter in the “V” or “U” shape center section and a longer sectional perimeter at the beam ends. The present disclosure therefore proposes to use a tubular member having a predetermined length. The tubular member is deformed at the center section of the tube into a “V” or “U” shape and then expanded at both end portions. This structure is formed using a closed die internal pressure forming process such as hydro-forming or blow molding or the like. The ends of the tubular member may also have a substantially oval or rectangular section. The tubular member of the present disclosure may also be heat treated in the closed die internal forming process to achieve a higher material strength. In this manner, the twist beam of the present disclosure is optimized to used the smallest possible section along its entire length, thus has a substantially lower mass and can be manufactured using less material and therefore at a substantially lower cost.

Abstract: An auxiliary hydraulic system for vehicles, in particular pick-up trucks, is configured to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to both on-board and off-board auxiliary equipment such as snow plows, dump boxes and wood splitters. The auxiliary hydraulic system includes a multi-piston fluid pump with electrically selectable poppet valves and an associated microprocessor control that facilitates variable output so that a desired proportional flow can be supplied to the auxiliary equipment. The system also provides a switchable valve arrangement for directional control and an arrangement of fluid distribution pipes and detachable couplings so that a range of different auxiliary equipment can be quickly and simply connected to the system. A simple user interface is also included so that the operator can command the auxiliary equipment from either within or in close proximity to the vehicle.

Abstract: A door check apparatus for an automobile comprises a unitary check body containing a pair of compliant leaves and a guidance arrangement which is adapted to be rigidly mounted to a vehicle door. It also comprises a check arm containing cam surfaces and detent features which is pivotally connected to a vehicle body structure and is configured to slideably interface with the guidance arrangement of the unitary check body. The unitary check body is manufactured from a resilient material so that the compliant leaves are capable of storing and releasing energy in response to the movement of the cam surfaces and detent features of the check arm relative to the guidance arrangement. Rotary motion of the vehicle door relative to the vehicle body structure is checked with predetermined forces generated from the energy stored and released by the compliant leaves at positions determined by the relationship between the detent features of the check arm relative to the guidance arrangement of the unitary check body.

Abstract: A replaceable blade system for ice skates is provided with a rotary retention latch located within an enclosed chamber of the holder of the skate. The rotary retention latch is configured with a release lever that is adapted to be accessed through an aesthetic aperture in the holder.

Abstract: A door check for an automobile has an arm with a cam formed between oppositely directed flanks. A unitary energy storage component cooperates with the arm to provide progressive resistance to opening and closing and a plurality of stable positions. The unitary energy storage component includes a pair of springs, each connected to shoes that bear against the flanks and load the springs in torsion as the shoes moves along the cam. The unitary energy storage component is formed as an integral unit to facilitate handling and assembly.

Abstract: A dual motion vehicle access step that can be deployed by initially rotating it around a pivot joint in response to an operator pushing down on the step to overcome a closing torque and then translating the step away from the vehicle in response to a biasing force. Both of the closing torque and biasing force are provided by a single energy storage device. An interlocking latch is configured to selectively structurally lock-out either the rotating motion or translating motion on an alternating basis.

Abstract: A replaceable blade ice skate (9) comprising a holder (2), a blade system having at least one blade engagement portion (11) and a blade (4, 52), at least one attachment device (5) mounted to the holder for movement between a blade securing position and a blade releasing position. The attachment device having an attachment engagement portion (6), wherein the blade system is retained in the holder via the blade engagement portion detachably mating with the attachment engagement portion when the attachment device is in the blade securing position. The blade system further comprising a downward facing rocker (3) and a flexible replaceable blade (4) which conforms to the first defined curvature of the rocker when mounted thereon.

Abstract: A structural attachment system for a cargo management system is fully integrated into the cargo bed side walls of a pick-up truck so that the only feature that is different than a standard pick-up is an array of holes along the top of the cargo bed side walls. The cargo management system also includes a wide range of different pick-up truck cargo bed mounted accessories that incorporate structural hooks that are adapted to be retained and released by the structural attachment system. Additionally, the structural attachment system provides a single point, simple method of retention and release via an actuation handle at the rear most point of the pick-up truck cargo bed. The configuration of the structural attachment system allows significant structural retention forces to be transferred from the accessories into the pick-up truck cargo bed side walls via the structural hooks.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system (55) is configured so as to contain all of the suspension motion control elements completely within the volume of the road wheel (100) while remotely locating the energy storage device (45) and damping device (42). An upright (60) comprises the spindle (61), brake caliper (105), and structure to hold a main strut shaft (70) parallel to a secondary strut shaft (67). The suspension's motion is controlled by the shafts which slide relative to the sprung part of the vehicle (1). The main strut shaft (70) includes a pumping piston (73). The fluid (91) displaced by the pumping piston (73) flows through a hydraulic connection (47) to a remote suspension module (40) mounted to the sprung part of the vehicle. The remote suspension module (40) hydraulically transmits the wheel motion to the remote energy storage device (45) and damping device (42).

Abstract: A hydraulic valve includes a main body, a valve body, a piston, a valve sleeve, a spool and a resilient energy storage member. The valve body and the piston are disposed within the main body. The valve body defines a first chamber, a second chamber, and a cylindrical passage connecting the first chamber and the second chamber. The valve sleeve is moveably disposed in the cylindrical passage. The spool is moveably disposed within the bore of the valve sleeve. The resilient energy storage member may be disposed between the valve sleeve and valve spool. The resilient energy storage member is compressed as pressure is induced in one of the first chamber or the second chamber such that the valve sleeve and the spool move relative to one another so that at least a portion of the shaped aperture is exposed to the first chamber or second chamber to allow a proportional amount of hydraulic fluid to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber.

Abstract: A control arm includes a first clamshell half and a second clamshell half, a ball joint housing, and a paddle portion. The paddle portion is formed as a single piece with the ball joint housing, has a first side and a second side, and is disposed between the first clamshell half and the second clamshell half. A first weld connection may join the first clamshell half to the first side of the paddle portion, and a second weld connection may join the second clamshell half to the second side of the paddle portion. Attachment of the first clamshell half to the first side of the paddle portion and attachment of the second clamshell half to the second side of the paddle portion may be characterized by the absence of a rivet and a bolt.

Abstract: A structural element comprising a vehicle suspension control arm is constructed from a complex, single piece, sheet metal stamped component formed from a material of uniform thickness. The stamping is configured with the correct plan view shape and formed into an I-beam cross-section comprising a central web portion and two flange portions. The central web portion is configured as a single material thickness and the flange portions comprise upstanding and downstanding closed sections with a continuous double returned segment. The open ends of the sheet metal terminate at or near the central web portion and are welded to the web portion, and in an alternative embodiment also to the continuous double returned segment, to create a favorable structural I-beam section with flange portions twice the thickness of the web portion.

Abstract: A replaceable blade system for ice skates is provided with a rotary retention latch located within an enclosed chamber of the holder of the skate. The rotary retention latch is configured with a release lever that is adapted to be accessed through an aesthetic aperture in the holder.

Abstract: A structural attachment system for a cargo management system is fully integrated into the cargo bed side walls of a pick-up truck so that the only feature that is different than a standard pick-up is an array of holes along the top of the cargo bed side walls. The cargo management system also includes a wide range of different pick-up truck cargo bed mounted accessories that incorporate structural hooks that are adapted to be retained and released by the structural attachment system. Additionally, the structural attachment system provides a single point, simple method of retention and release via an actuation handle at the rear most point of the pick-up truck cargo bed. The configuration of the structural attachment system allows significant structural retention forces to be transferred from the accessories into the pick-up truck cargo bed side walls via the structural hooks.

Abstract: An auxiliary hydraulic system for vehicles, in particular pick-up trucks, is configured to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to both on-board and off-board auxiliary equipment such as snow plows, dump boxes and wood splitters. The auxiliary hydraulic system includes a multi-piston fluid pump with electrically selectable poppet valves and an associated microprocessor control that facilitates variable output so that a desired proportional flow can be supplied to the auxiliary equipment. The system also provides a switchable valve arrangement for directional control and an arrangement of fluid distribution pipes and detachable couplings so that a range of different auxiliary equipment can be quickly and simply connected to the system. A simple user interface is also included so that the operator can command the auxiliary equipment from either within or in close proximity to the vehicle.

Abstract: A door check apparatus for an automobile comprises a unitary check body containing a pair of compliant leaves and a guidance arrangement which is adapted to be rigidly mounted to a vehicle door. It also comprises a check arm containing cam surfaces and detent features which is pivotally connected to a vehicle body structure and is configured to slideably interface with the guidance arrangement of the unitary check body. The unitary check body is manufactured from a resilient material so that the compliant leaves are capable of storing and releasing energy in response to the movement of the cam surfaces and detent features of the check arm relative to the guidance arrangement. Rotary motion of the vehicle door relative to the vehicle body structure is checked with predetermined forces generated from the energy stored and released by the compliant leaves at positions determined by the relationship between the detent features of the check arm relative to the guidance arrangement of the unitary check body.