Abstract: A shock absorbing hand grip comprises an inner elongated resilient tubular wall member adapted to slidably receive a supporting structure and an outer concentric resilient elongated tubular wall member spaced from the inner tubular wall member. A plurality of flexible spacer members are disposed between the inner and outer tubular wall members having a first end attached to the inner tubular wall member and a second end attached to the outer tubular wall member. The flexible spacer members are disposed between the inner and outer tubular wall members at an angle to the axial plane of said tubular members so as to create a region of bending flexure for the spacer member between the inner and outer tubular walls such that shock forces applied to one tubular wall member will cause a bending flexure of the spacer members whereby such shock forces are substantially completely displaced in a non-radial direction to the other tubular wall member.

Abstract: An instrument panel and associated inflatable restraint door, capable of producing a "hinging effect" preferential opening of the door upon deployment of an air bag concealed in the instrument panel, has locating peripheral surfaces with a dielock angle which is flared five degrees along one edge and between fifteen and twenty degrees along the opposite edge to impove door release action.

Abstract: A process for molding foam products from foam precursors reacted in a mold cavity formed in part by a mold lid and which is covered by a double layer cover to maintain the surface of the lid clean during the foaming process comprising the steps of: providing a double layered cover having four working surfaces; adhering one of the working surfaces to the lid and thereafter closing the tool lid and foaming the part. The lid is opened and the cover and foam part are separated from the mold. The lid is separated from the double layer cover and foam part at a working surface of low strength adhesive; a release sheet of the cover is separated at two other working surfaces to expose a high strength adhesive for connecting the foam part to another member. The double layer cover used for practicing the process includes a foam layer adapted to have one surface thereof bonded to foam material and including a high strength adhesive backing thereon.

Abstract: A fastener for securely fastening a plurality of members having a sleeve with a generally tubular portion and a flange extending radially from one end of the tubular portion and having a mandrel with an enlarged head and a generally cylindrical stem, the stem having a grooved locking section in which the locking groove has a longitudinal component and an adjacent tapered section containing a breakneck groove, the tapered section tapering radially outward toward the mandrel head and ending in a shoulder having an outer diameter signal to or greater than that of the locking section to provide a surface for improved retention of the mandrel with respect to the sleeve when the fastener is installed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a motor-driven apparatus such as a motor-driven chain saw and the like having a lubricating-oil pump and an oil supply for a work tool and to apparatus for varying the reciprocatory stroke distance of the oil piston or pumping member to thereby provide selective regulation of oil flow from full flow to through no flow in response to the stroke distance of the pumping member.

Abstract: A mold assembly for molding vinyl skin shell-covered and foam-filled products, such as an automotive instrument panel, wherein waste portions of the shell and foam are eliminated from the molded product. This eliminates having to manually trim such portions from the finished product after molding. Specifically, compressible foam or silicone rubber gaskets or spacers of predetermined shaped, such as the shape of an opening suitable for a radio speaker, are placed in the mold and compressed between the mold lid and the bottom surface of the mold cavity.

Abstract: A cover for an airbag unit includes first and second separate door members each having a polyvinyl chloride outer shell, a urethane foam pad and a yieldable thin metal back plate with a side flange connecting each of the first and second door members to an airbag housing to define a soft-feel horn hub within a steering wheel having a styling line thereacross; the two members are adhered to a rigid urethane foam member to prevent separation therebetween. The rigid urethane foam member fills between the door members and the airbag unit such that deployment of the airbag unit will immediately impact thereon to cause the thin metal back plates to hinge outwardly with respect to the housing to open the two separate door members for airbag deployment.

Abstract: A high pressure pumping system for power inflating and power bleeding the lumbar support of a vehicular seat including a high pressure air cell mounted in the back support. A two-position pneumatic switch serves to selectively alternately reverse a motor and pump to inflate the air cell to a predetermined capacity 5 or greater p.s.i., and to manually deflate the air cell through a bleed valve until the system pressure is lower than the set pressure of a pressure cut-off switch whereupon the motor and pump power bleed the system.

Abstract: A door assembly for an opening through which an inflatable restraint safety device may be deployed including a frame for supporting an inflatable restraint safety device and an opening presented in the frame, a door is disposed in the opening and is capable of rapidly moving so that the inflatable restraint device may be deployed through the opening, the door includes an impact plate portion and a foam portion bonded to the impact plate portion with the foam portion including a microcellular component having a first predetermined density and an integral outer skin component distinct from the microcellular component and formed integral with the microcellular component and which has a second predetermined density which is greater than the first predetermined density of the microcellular component for providing an aesthetically pleasing non-separable surface on the microcellular component.

Abstract: An airblast fuel injector tip is provided for reducing fuel vaporization problems as a result of high fuel temperatures without adversely affecting the airblast operational characterisitics of the injector tip. The injector tip includes a fuel receiving chamber and an arcuate valve member movable relative to a valve seat member having a fuel discharge port for discharging fuel flow into the fuel receiving chamber as metered by the valve member in dependence on the pressure of fuel. The valve seat member is adjustably received on the injector tip and preferably includes a deflectable portion accessible externally of the injector tip for facilitating adjustment of the valve cracking pressure.

Abstract: A plunger of a known mass is held in a guide sleeve of a test device at a predetermined height over the sample of settable plastic material being tested. The plunger is gently released onto the sample without impact to apply a static force thereon similar to a "handgrip" pressure applied on a molded part during handling. The static pressure is applied on the sample released at selected times and places after reactive components of the sample are mixed for reaction to effect a series of indentations on the sample whose depths are measured and plotted as points on a depth versus time graph to define a cure curve of the sample. Curing rate is determined from the initial slope of the curve. Cure completion is determined where the curve levels off. A measure of the likelihood of handling damage is established by the portion of the indentations after a given time period.

Abstract: A window adjustment apparatus is provided for use with an automotive vehicle type of window assembly of the type having an elongate guide channel defining a longitudinal axis and which mounts a window for reciprocal motion relative to a vehicle body panel such as a vehicle door, and a pivot arrangement which mounts the guide channel for pivotal movement generally about one end thereof and within the vehicle body panel in which the guide channel is located. The window adjustment apparatus includes a housing and an adjustment member having a channel-coupling portion or coupling thereof to the guide channel at a location thereon generally remotely located from the end about which the guide channel is mounted for pivotal motion.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a single stage snowthrower wherein a flat rear wall section of an impeller housing, a rear wall of a chute opening and the central axis of an external chute are all aligned to more efficiently remove snow. A gate is also provided to control the recirculation of snow through the impeller housing. The gate may comprise a sliding dam movable along a straight line into the housing. In a further embodiment of the present invention a pivotable gate or reciprocable plate is disposed between sidewalls of the impeller housing to vary the throat area into the chute opening in accordance with the wet or dry conditions of the snow.

Abstract: A method for integrally molding a preassembled door within an instrument panel to provide a cover for a safety air cushion device includes the steps of molding the plastic instrument panel about and over the door in situ of a mold cavity and thereafter the step of removing a portion of the instrument panel which overlies the door to provide an opening therein to expose the door for opening movement with respect to the instrument panel upon deployment of the air cushion device. The invention further includes the resultant structure of an integrally molded door and instrument panel assembly having an opening formed in the instrument panel assembly for both defining a ledge to support the door and to define a path for impacting an air cushion device against the door to cause the door to be lifted from its integrally molded seat relationship on the ledge for further deployment of the air cushion device into the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

Abstract: An end connector for connecting the ends of an expansible watch band to a watch case. The end connector is inserted between the endmost top and bottom links or the band and is engageable with the staples providing an interconnection therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composite fastener that includes a metal fastener having a shank with an entrant end and an integral insert. A bottom surface of the insert has a greater diameter than the diameter of the shank. The bottom surface also has a lip extending about the periphery of the shank, which during manufacturing of the composite fastener forms a seal against a shuttle for preventing molten material from running down the shank. Further, the insert includes a configuration for supporting a shuttle pin, such as shuttle pin receiving receptacle, to align the metal fastener in a shuttle. A non-corrosive head made of the extrudable material, such as zinc, encapsulates the insert. A method for manufacturing the composite fastener is also disclosed.