Abstract: A vanity mirror assembly includes a housing which is adapted to be mounted to the roof structure of a vehicle and a generally L-shaped pivot rod with one end locked to the housing and an opposite end pivotally mounted to a vanity mirror frame. The pivot rod includes an offset portion defining a cam which engages a cam surface on the frame to control the pivotal motion of the frame with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A movable door actuating member is mechanically connected to a door latching control through a flexible sealing membrane in the door panel. The door actuating member is movably mounted to the door panel and includes a camming surface which deflects the membrane which in turn engages a cam follower of the latching mechanism for actuating the door latch for opening the door.

Abstract: A tennis racquet includes a hollow tubular frame defining a head portion, a throat, and a shaft portion supporting a handle. The frame has a height, in a direction perpendicular to the stringing plane, that increases uniformly from the bottomn of the throat to the tip of the head portion, so as to increase in stiffness further away from the handle. Such arrangement, in which the frame is most flexible at the top of the handle, reduces the angle of deflection of the stringing plane upon impact and absorbs shock.

Abstract: A tennis racket includes a frame with a head and a shank portion. The shank portion has an outer periphery with top, bottom, side and diagonal outside surfaces arranged generally in an octagonal configuration. A preformed handle includes a core with a hollow interior having upper, lower, lateral and angled surfaces therein arranged to define generally an octagonal configuration. The surfaces in the interior of the core are sized to conform to the outside surfaces of the shank portion of the frame, and may include longitudinally extending flutes to reduce vibration, weight, and shock in the handle.Handles of different grip sizes are preformed separate from the frames. The core elements are one piece, and may therefore be wrapped with leather or other gripping material and stored separate from the frames. When a finished racket frame is desired, adhesive is applied to the shank portion of the frame, and the handle slides over the end of the frame and seats on the outside surfaces.

Abstract: A visor is disclosed of the type used in an automobile which has an attached ear portion. The visor has a self-supporting cardboard butterfly inner support which includes a pair of ear portions, one of which is attached to the major portion of the butterfly along a crease line formed between the major portion and the ear portion while the other ear portion is joined to the major portion of the butterfly by a slotted line having strips of material between slots. One side of the butterfly is covered with a decorative material. The butterfly is folded to form opposing edges and a urethane adhesive is used to bind the sides of the butterfly together. The adhesive contacts the edge of the decorative material contained within the folded butterfly and fixes it firmly in place. As the urethane resin cures, it expands to form a rigid foam member which forms a stiffening member for the visor.

Abstract: A bumper strip for tennis racquets, particularly for wide body tennis racquets, includes a groove portion that fits into the frame stringing groove and with grommet pegs that extend into the string holes in the raquet frame, and a pair of side flanges that cover the outside surface of the racquet. The flanges include a series of axially spaced, trapezoidal cutouts located between the grommet pegs so as to reduce the dead weight of the strip, without impairing the protective function of the stip or impairing its structural integrity.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a sewing machine with a textile fabric with opposite side hems. The sewing machine has a needle assembly and a bobbin assembly which are vertically aligned with each other to sew a textile fabric placed at a position between the needle and bobbin assemblies. The feeding apparatus is designed to set and withdraw the fabric into and from said position.

Abstract: An adjustable headrest includes a rotatable member positioned between a stationary member and a movable member to which a padded head support is attached. The member has opposed staggered arcuate surfaces extending on opposite sides of a pivot point with one of the surfaces including teeth which selectively engage teeth on the movable member, while the remaining arcuate surface of the member engages a stationary portion of the headrest. A spring holds the teeth in removable engagement with each other and an articulated release arm selectively disengage the teeth to retract the head support.

Abstract: A combined storage compartment and container holder for a motor vehicle. The storage compartment and container holder is of a substantially rectangular box-like configuration which is divided into two sections. A storage compartment depends from an edge member about the first section and a pair of container holders are mounted in the second section. The combined unit can be concealed within an armrest until needed at which time it can be extended out of the armrest to expose the container holder and on further extension a storage compartment. The container holders are stored in a vertical facing position and are guided to a horizontal use position by pairs of spaced pins on opposite outer edges of each cup-like holder which traverse guide slots formed in a pair of spaced vertical walls.

Abstract: A broadloom carpet is featured that can be laid similar to modular carpet tiles, and which can be cut or severed to remove damaged portions or to gain access to the floor below the carpet. The carpet is uniquely characterized by its ability to prevent fraying and/or warping of severed flaps.

Abstract: An upholstery system for a vehicle accessory includes a substrate with a U-shaped channel adjacent an edge and including a lip extending from one wall. A trim member includes spaced locking tabs which underlie the lip for compressibly holding an edge of upholstery material in the channel. In one embodiment, pins in the trim ring extend through the material and into apertures in an outer flange of the channel. In another embodiment, the locking tabs are formed on the substrate and the trim member includes interengaging locking slots.

Abstract: A visor is disclosed of the type used in an automobile. The visor has a self-supporting cardboard butterfly inner support which is covered with a decorative material. The butterfly is folded to form opposing edges and a urethane adhesive is used to bind the sides of the butterfly together and to clamp the decorative material in place. The adhesive contacts the edge of the decorative material contained within the folded butterfly and fixes it firmly in place. As the urethane resin cures, it expands to form a rigid foam member which forms a stiffening member for the visor. A torque member is attached to the visor within the folded butterfly and has a member for attachment to the ceiling of an automobile. The method of making the visor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A visor body includes a guide for receiving a slide member having an auxiliary shield made of a flexible material which can be moved from a collapsed stored position to an extended position when the slide member is moved from its retracted position within the visor body to an extended use position increasing the width of the visor. In an alternative embodiment, the visor body itself is split into two sections which are slidably interfitted to allow them to extend away from one another for providing an increased width visor for added sunblocking capability.

Abstract: A visor control has a plurality of teeth extending in offset relationship from one edge thereof for interlocking the torque control to a plurality spaced notches formed through a fiberboard-type visor core for locking the torque device to the visor core. The opposite edge of the torque control includes a plurality of alternately formed spring arms which selectively engage opposite sides of a pivot rod having alternately staggered flats and lobes for controlling the visor movement between a raised stored position and a lowered use position.

Abstract: A door closing system includes a foot actuated pedal positioned conveniently near a vehicle door to be actuated, a flexible member having one end coupled to the pedal and a spring and interference fitting for coupling the flexible member to the door such that actuation of the pedal will provide a force to the door tending to close the door.

Abstract: A sliding visor includes in one embodiment a support member over which a thin butterfly core is folded and secured by a guide for slidable movement along the support member. In one embodiment, the support member has an elongated cross-sectional profile. In another embodiment, a U-shaped guide clamps a planar visor panel therein and in turn slidably extends within a slotted support member for movement along the support member.

Abstract: A universal visor core and cover structure allows the core to be employed to accommodate any number of options. The core has pre-formed apertures for receiving a vanity mirror or illuminated vanity mirror package and cover mounting brackets. The core is upholstered to cover such apertures which are unnoticeable when the visor is a blank visor. The cover mounting bracket integrally include camming surfaces which cooperatively engage an edge of the cover for camming the cover in a snap-open or snap-closed position urging the cover into these positions for use or storage of the vanity mirror protected by such cover.

Abstract: A push-button rachet mechanism switch is converted to a rotary wiping action for a moveable contact which includes one or more axial extending contact members. The moveable contact selectively engages one or more radially spaced fixed contacts and continuously engages a common conductor for selectively coupling the common conductor to one or more of the radially spaced fixed contacts to which other conductors are coupled.

Abstract: A gas combustion type dryer is provided wherein a liquefied gas is ignited by electric discharge and combusted to forcibly blow out heated air by a fan, while eliminating adverse effects of remaining heat after the stop of fan operation and maintaining the gas pressure constant. A temperature controller is provided together with a combustor within a blowing barrel of a dryer main body, and a pressure regulator is provided together with a liquefied gas tank within a handle. The pressure regulator is coupled to the combustor with the temperature controller interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A visor system includes a visor panel which is concealed in a vehicle headliner and can be extended from the headliner and pivoted downwardly to an adjusted use position. The visor includes an auxiliary pivoted panel which as the visor is extended from its stored position, pivots outwardly to provide additional visor coverage to one side of the main visor panel.