Abstract: A storage component such as an armrest includes a base defining a compartment, and a cover for closing the compartment. A pair of spaced apart links operably connect the cover to the base for movement between a first closed position where an aesthetic side of the cover is exposed for supporting a person's arm, a second raised position for inverting the cover, and a third inverted and closed position where a cupholder-defining side of the cover is exposed for holding containers. In some embodiments, a pair of panels are pivotally attached to one of the base and the cover for movement between a storage position in the compartment and a laterally extending position for supporting loose items thereon.

Abstract: A vanity mirror assembly includes a flexible circuit which extends between a movable cover and a vanity mirror frame and provides circuit capabilities for mounting lamps on either the cover or vanity mirror frame. Other circuit elements such as control switches, dimming controls, and the like can be mounted on the opposite side of the vanity mirror package so that a relatively thin visor with spaced-apart circuit elements can be provided. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the circuit comprises a flexible insulative substrate which comprise first and second circuit panels integrally interconnected by a bridge. Conductive elements are screen printed on the first and second circuit panels and on the bridge which extends across the pivot connection of the cover to the mirror frame while coupling the first and second circuit panels.

Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly switch includes a housing having a floor and electrical conductors mounted to the floor and defining a pair of spaced apart electrical switch contacts. The contacts define a guide track for receiving a movable contact element which in the preferred embodiment comprises a spherical conductive member. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing floor further includes detent structure which cooperates with a control member for providing a plurality of detented switch positions.

Abstract: A data entry system includes a display of either icons, alphabet letters, numerals or a combination of visual and alpha-numeric information and allows the user to select data for entry, by using a reversible control to highlight a selected icon or other displayed control or data element and subsequently enter the element with a push-button switch. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the display is in an overhead console and the information entry controls are located at the forward edge near the top of an armrest console where they are conveniently located and readily available to the operator. In one preferred embodiment a rotary left-right switch is provided to allow the operator to select display information for entry.

Abstract: A vehicle armrest includes a support, a cushion attached to the support, and a sheet of material covering the support and cushion. The cushion is made from a mat of non-woven PET fibers, about 85% or more of which are from recycled post-consumer materials such as reground soft drink bottles and beverage containers. The remaining material of the mat are binder fibers made of an extrusion of high melt viscosity and low melt viscosity virgin PET material, which is also recyclable. The mat is compression molded, which provides heat and pressure to activate the binder fibers to permanently bind the fibers of the mat into a desired shape. The molded cushion includes pad sections having different thicknesses, shapes, and resilient properties, and further can include structural flanges that are substantially solid thermoplastic material. The structural flanges have bosses, attachment holes, ribs and contours as desired.

Abstract: A speaker excursion control circuit for driving relatively small diameter speakers at their maximum output while assuring minimum distortion of acoustical output from such transducers detects signals which may cause over excursion and dynamically controls the amplitude of signals applied to the power amplifier coupled to the speakers. In one embodiment of the invention a single state-variable filter is employed with a voltage controlled amplifier controlled by a low pass output of the state-variable filter to provide the speaker signal control. In another embodiment, a pair of state-variable filters are employed with the first of such filters defining a model for the speaker cone excursion and providing control output signals to a second state-variable filter which dynamically shifts its filtering characteristics causing increased signal attenuation when the control signals indicate that speaker over excursion may occur.

Abstract: A vanity mirror assembly includes a relatively thin panel which can slide out from a vehicle support housing. The panel supports a mirror illuminated by a fiber-optic lighting assembly. The fiber-optic lighting assembly comprises a light source which is fixedly positioned within a vehicle housing and to which at least one or more fiber-optic cables are optically coupled and extend to the panel for directing illumination therefrom. The fiber-optic cables have a length and are flexible to allow the panel to be moved from a stored position within the vehicle housing to an extended use position. Also in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the widened ends of the fiber-optic cables have a rectangular surface textured to direct illumination outwardly in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the fiber-optic cables.

Abstract: A cover made of a web of flexible material has one edge anchored to a vehicle and an opposite free edge movable across the vehicle to a position remote from the anchored edge. Brackets are provided for mounting at opposite sides of the vehicle for holding the cover in a security position or in a stored position defining a carrying pouch. The cover can rest on the floor of the vehicle for providing a protective liner for the vehicles carpeting. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the free edge of the cover includes a rigid cross-bar with a spring loaded handle for providing biasing tension holding the cover in an extended security position.

Abstract: An electrical component mounting system includes a substantially rigid substrate supporting a flexible circuit having a contact terminal with at least one aperture to receive a connecting pin from an electrical component. The aperture has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the component conductor pin, such that extending the pin through the aperture in the flexible circuit deforms the contact terminal into an aligned larger diameter aperture in the substrate to provide a secure electrical connection between the pin and the terminal of the flexible circuit. In one embodiment of the invention, the conductive pin includes a locking groove for lockably engaging the rigid substrate.

Abstract: A visor mounting system includes a visor pivot rod with an end which extends through a bezel and a non-circular locking plate which cooperates with the bezel and pivot rod for allowing the visor to be initially inserted in an aperture in the underlying roof support and subsequently rotated using the visor as the installation tool to a position in which the locking plate lockably engages an aperture in the vehicle roof completing the installation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking plate includes arcuate collars which slidably interfit with arcuate collars of the bezel to interlock the plate and bezel from relative rotation and yet allow the locking plate and bezel to move with respect to one another.

Abstract: An electrical vehicle accessory is directly mounted to an aperture in a supporting member base by providing a socket which includes a fastener which mechanically snaps the socket into the support member and, in turn, mechanically and electrically receives a plug of an electrical assembly for holding the assembly in a final installed position.

Abstract: A sliding visor includes a visor body with a slide extending within a track extending along the upper edge of the door frame and downwardly into the A-pillar. A storage pocket located at the end of the track receives the visor body for the unobtrusive storage of the visor when not in use. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a windshield mounted track visor is employed and includes a track concealably mounted behind the vehicle headliner above the windshield. The headliner includes a recess formed therein for receiving the visor for storage.

Abstract: A storage system for a vehicle having a floor and a wheel well defined in the floor includes a compartment-defining structure having a pivot for pivotally attaching the structure to the vehicle for movement between a first position wherein the structure straddles the wheel well and a second position wherein the structure is located generally adjacent the wheel well on the vehicle floor. A compartment defined by the compartment-defining structure is accessible in one or both of the first and second positions. In one aspect, the compartment-defining structure includes a curved sidewall shaped to be mateably positioned over the wheel well when in said first position, and an outer sidewall spaced from the curved sidewall defining one or more compartments between the two sidewalls. In another aspect, the compartment-defining structure includes an elastic fence allowing access to the compartments in the compartment-defining structure when in the raised position.

Abstract: A visor body is mounted to a pivot rod which in turn is mounted to a slide assembly positioned above a vehicle headliner. The headliner includes an opening at its forward end adjacent the windshield for concealably receiving the visor body and a longitudinally extending slot through which the pivot rod extends when the visor is moved to a lowered use position and rotated to a side window position. The slide assembly permits the visor body to be moved forwardly and rearwardly in either the front window or side window positions for providing selective sun blocking coverage.

Abstract: A personalization system for vehicles uses a CD player and a keyless entry transmitter. The CD player outputs audible prompting signals including accessory operation choices. The driver selects accessory operation by pressing the "LOCK" or "UNLOCK" switch on the keyless entry key fob following an associated audio prompting signal. A controller coupled to the CD player receives a selection signal from the keyless entry key fob and associates the receipt of the selection signal with an index corresponding to the audio prompting signal last output by the CD player. The controller controls accessory operation according to the accessory options selected responsive to the audible prompting signal.

Abstract: A telephone mounting system includes a carriage which is mounted within the top or cover of a vehicle storage console or armrest and pivots from a stored position in which its decorative surface is substantially flush with the upper surface of the console or armrest to a use position in which the opposite side of the carriage is presented and holds a cellular telephone handset. Access for use of the telephone, therefore, is provided without opening the cover of the console or armrest and the cover can be moved independently of the telephone mount.

Abstract: A decoupling clip for joining parts for normal use in a secure fashion and yet be easily separated as necessary for servicing includes a first clip having at least one spring clamp which extends into lockable, permanent engagement with a first part and a second clip with at least one spring clamp which lockably and permanently engages a second part. One of the first or second clips includes an aperture for removably receiving a decoupling locking element on the other of said clips whereby each of the clips are permanently mounted to a respective part and removably mounted to each other through the releasable interconnection of the locking member and recess.

Abstract: A container holder assembly includes a base defining a recess, a container holder adapted to mateably cover the recess, and a hinge mechanism mounting the container holder to the base for movement between a storage position, a use position and a collapsed position. The hinge is configured to position the container holder against the base to cover the recess when in the storage position, and is further configured to lift and extend the container holder as the container holder is moved to the use position. In the use position, the container holder is extended away from the base and supported in a raised position with respect to the bottom of the recess with a container holding aperture forming portion of the container holder facing generally upwardly for use. An over-pressure release on the hinge prevents damage to the container holder by allowing the container holder to collapse from the use position upon application of an excessive load.

Abstract: A container holder for a vehicle includes a flat panel section defining a marginal flange for engaging a mating structure on a vehicle component, such as an armrest or a floor console, and one or more cup-shaped members. The cup-shaped members include a floor and a resilient sidewall which can be resiliently flexed to move the floor between a lowered position and a raised position. In the lowered position, the cup-shaped member forms a shallow depression shaped to receive and stably support a first container. In the raised position, an aperture in the floor of the cup-shaped member receives a smaller diameter container such that the marginal material forming the aperture supports the sides of the container.

Abstract: A compass circuit has a magnetic field sensor adapted to be positioned in a vehicle near a source of varying magnetic fields. A source of correction signals is coupled to the compass circuit for providing correction signals applied to the compass circuit for correcting the heading display of the compass circuit when differing levels of magnetic field disturbance occurs to provide accurate heading information. In a preferred embodiment the source of correction signals includes a detector circuit coupled to the vehicle accessory for providing signals directly corresponding to the source of magnetic field interference.