Abstract: A body mount for a vehicle includes a rebound cushion assembly in which a first cushion portion provides a progressive rate buildup to provide travel rebound control and a second cushion portion prevents an upper cushion of the body mount from hitting against the vehicle frame. A clamp member partially encloses the first and second cushion portions. The portions are preferably inner and outer rings interconnected by a thin membrane that allows independent action. The first portion is an elongated member always in compression that has a minimal impact on the system rate and loaded height and the second ring comes into selective contact with the vehicle frame to prevent the upper cushion from being lifted from the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A lighted vehicle body opening weather strip includes a longitudinally extending gripping portion having an outside wall, a co-extending tubular sealing portion disposed on the outside wall of the gripping portion, a carrier embedded within the gripping portion, a light source extrusion carried by the gripping portion, and an extrusion solid surrounding the light source extrusion.

Abstract: A self-tapping fastener or fastening peg secures a weatherseal to a mounting surface of an automotive vehicle. A pointed, conical nose pierces the weatherseal to form an opening. In the preferred embodiment, the fastening peg is rotated at a first velocity as it is axially advanced toward the weatherseal to create an opening. The fastening peg is further axially advanced and rotated at a second velocity to advance a first flange through the pierced opening, thereby securing the fastening peg to the weatherseal. The weatherseal is then secured to a vehicle mounting surface by advancing a locking assembly through a pre-formed opening in the mounting surface.

Abstract: A body mount for a vehicle includes a rebound cushion assembly in which a first cushion portion provides a progressive rate buildup to provide travel rebound control and a second cushion portion prevents an upper cushion of the body mount from hitting against the vehicle frame. A clamp member partially encloses the first and second cushion portions. The portions are preferably inner and outer rings interconnected by a thin membrane that allows independent action. The first portion is an elongated member always in compression that has a minimal impact on the system rate and loaded height and the second ring comes into selective contact with the vehicle frame to prevent the upper cushion from being lifted from the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A laminate of an elastomeric substrate and a high density polyethylene having certain properties is disclosed. The preferred high density polyethylene has a density of from 0.940 to 1.000 g/cm3, a melt index of less than 10 grams per 10 minutes under conditions of 190° C. and 2.160 kg load and 298.2 kPa, and a melt index of greater than 5 grams per 10 minutes under conditions of 190° C. and 21.6 kg load and 2,982.2 kPa pressure. The laminate is particularly well suited for use in automotive seals.

Abstract: A thin layer of a magnetizable coating is extruded or coextruded onto a external surface portion of a tubular sponge bulb seal for an automotive door or hatch. The coating is of a thickness, location on the seal and formulation to be selectively magnetized to provide a desired magnetic force level to optimize the balance between effective sealing and ease of door opening.

Abstract: An adapter plate for pivotally securing an isolating mount to a drive train component is provided. The adapter plate includes a body portion which can be secured to the drive train. The adapter plate also includes a pivot support formed on the body portion. The pivot support has a pivot member for pivotally securing a first end of the isolating mount. The adapter plate also includes a securing member formed on the body portion. The securing member has an aperture for aligning with a corresponding aperture at a second end of the isolating mount. The isolating mount can pivot about the pivot support during installation of the drive train component within a vehicle, and the isolating mount can be secured to the securing member to prevent pivotal movement after installation of the drive train component within the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sealed mounting of a part on a frame, the device being of the type comprising an edging having an elastically deformable body provided firstly with a link element overmolded at least in part on the periphery of the part, and secondly with a sealing element, wherein the sealing element projects from the edging towards the frame and has a removable fixing device designed to co-operate with a complementary retaining device carried by the edging.

Abstract: An elongated extruded strip with a wire core having a selectively positioned neutral bending axis is made by coextruding an elastomeric extrudate at an elevated temperature about a wire core having adjacent parallel transverse wire lengths joined by low temperature threads having a melting point lower than the said elevated temperature while simultaneously feeding at least one high temperature thread into the extruder in bonding relationship to the elastomeric extrudate and in selected position therewith.

Abstract: A generally trumpet-shaped fastener includes a generally circular flange portion flared outwardly from an elongated pin portion. The fastener is hollow and open at the flange portion and the opposite end of the pin portion, thus allowing air to escape during securement of the fastener to an attachment member that is to be held in place on a base member by the fastener. In addition, a number of discrete ridges or other protuberances are formed on the outer side of the flange portion in order to enhance the engagement and securement of the flange portion of the fastener to the underside of an attachment member, either by integrally molding or by ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: An integrally formed single piece light strip and light strip manufacturing system. The light strip also includes a substrate populated with a plurality of LED light circuits. A plurality of bus elements are spaced apart from one another at a predetermined distance and are in electrical communication with the plurality of light circuits. A plastic material is extruded around the plurality of light circuits and the substrate to completely encapsulates the bus elements and the plurality of light circuits to provide a protective housing. In one embodiment, an electrical connector is also integrally formed as part of the light strip to eliminate the need for separate connectors. The light strip is manufactured in a cost efficient manner, and is impervious to moisture penetration, thereby allowing the strip to be used in a variety ions and environments.

Abstract: A rebound cushion for a body mount is disclosed. The rebound cushion includes an outer cushion formed from an elastomeric material having a first durometer. The rebound cushion also includes an inner cushion formed from an elastomeric material having a second durometer, wherein the first durometer of the outer cushion is higher than the second durometer of the inner cushion. A clamp disk maintains the inner cushion in contact with the outer cushion. The outer cushion may include an annular lip for retaining the clamp disk. The separate inner cushion allows a vertical cushioning rate defined by the inner cushion to be designed and/or tuned independently from the lateral cushioning rate.

Abstract: A continuous molding member to be inserted in a gap between a vehicle window and vehicle body panel, where the molding member includes a plurality of independently movable sections that allow the molding member to traverse a corner without becoming distorted. The molding member includes a stem portion having a plurality of barbed extensions at one end and a center umbrella portion at an opposite end. A first side umbrella portion is connected to the stem portion by a first branch portion so that it is positioned on one side of the center umbrella portion, and a second side umbrella portion is connected to the stem portion by a second branch portion so that it is positioned at an opposite side of the center umbrella portion. The first and second branch portions can be of a length so that the first and second side umbrella portions are positioned above the center portion opposite to the stem portion, or below the center portion adjacent to the stem portion.

Abstract: The performance of natural rubber based products, such as engine mounts which are susceptible to degradation caused by heat, oxidation, ozone attack or ultraviolet radiation is significantly improved by coating exposed surfaces of the product with a polymeric material having excellent heat and oxidation resistance properties. By applying such polymeric coatings having high resistance towards oxidation under excessive heat, the C.dbd.C bonds of the natural rubber are protected from oxygen and ozone attacks, thereby allowing its strain-crystallization characteristic properties to be retained.

Abstract: An exterior automotive vehicle component having a pleasing appearance comprises an elastomer modified polyolefin resin matrix having a haze level of less than about 50% and a special effects pigment uniformly distributed therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing a thermoplastic resin composition that includes combining a ground crosslinked rubber with a thermoplastic resin and a compatibilizer based on a paraffinic oil to form a blend thermoplastic composition. The ground crosslinked rubber has an average particle size of about 80 mesh or smaller. The thermoplastic resin includes at least one polyolefinic resin. The ground crosslinked rubber is included in amounts of up to about 70% by weight, based on the weight of the blend thermoplastic composition.

Abstract: A clip for securely retaining a weatherstrip in the upper mounting channel of an upper door frame of an automotive vehicle is described. The clip possesses a plurality of tines that engage various portions of the weatherstrip and the upper mounting channel so as to provide a resistive force against a dislodging force.

Abstract: A tire tread that is applicable to retread a worn tire carcass. The tire tread includes a cured tread portion having a first shoulder and a second shoulder. A first uncured wing portion extends from the first shoulder and a second uncured wing portion extends from the second shoulder. Further, an end section at each end of the tire tread portion is uncured. When the tire tread is wrapped around the tire carcass to be formed to the tire carcass and form a tire retread, the first and second wing portions extend down the side walls of the tire carcass and the uncured end sections of the tire tread contact each other. The tire carcass is placed within an autoclave, and the autoclave is heated under pressure such that the tire tread is cross-linked to the tire carcass. During the autoclaving step, the uncured wing portions are cured and cross-linked to the side walls of the tire carcass, and the uncured end portions are cured and cross-linked to each other.

Abstract: A tool for roll crimping a flange cover onto a flange, the tool having a body, a first roller having an axis and being supported on and fixed to a first shaft having a coincident axis, and a second roller having an axis and being supported on and fixed to a second shaft having a coincident axis, the rollers being biased toward one another. The first shaft and second shaft are rotatingly driven and one of the axes is movable relative to the body which allows the first and second rollers to move toward one another.

Abstract: A protective door jamb system integrally connected to a door frame. The door jamb system of the present invention includes both a door stop and jamb cladding each manufactured from an extruded plastic product such as hollow rigid plastic, cellular plastic, granular filled plastic or fiber filled plastic. The door stop and jamb clad are each designed to attach to a door jamb substrate through compression deflected fingers. The door jamb system of the present invention may also include a weather strip to ensure a weather-tight seal of a door when the door is closed into the frame. The jamb clad of the present invention covers the recessed portion of the door jamb substrate adjacent the jamb to completely cover the substrate and thereby increase both the structural and aesthetic integrity of the frame.