Abstract: This invention provides a metal mounting member for mounting a vehicle accessory such as a sunshade to the sheet metal structure of a vehicle such as the vehicle roof with minimal insertion force. The mounting member does not require use of tools or other fasteners. The mounting member is made from one piece of spring steel. This invention also includes a fast and efficient electrical contact that does not require a separate step of making an electrical contact during installation.

Abstract: A clock spring and steering wheel rear cover arrangement are particularly well-suited for a modular steering wheel and air bag sub-assembly. The clock spring is attached to the rear of a hub in the steering wheel assembly, and the rear cover snaps behind the clock spring. The clock spring and rear cover may be pre-assembled with the modular steering wheel and air bag such that the entire assembly is attached as a unit to a steering column. A tab from the rear cover may snap into an opening on the rear of the hub. The clock spring may include a hard connection into an air bag igniter, or may utilize a wire harness connection. A single opening in the rear of the hub for the steering column may receive an electrical connection for accessories on the steering wheel along with providing a connection to the air bag igniter. Also, the clock spring housing includes structure to be aligned on the steering column.

Abstract: A method for assembling a multifunctional switch stalk includes the steps of providing a handle having an inner end and an outer end, the handle including a base portion at the inner end for being mounted on a vehicle steering column, mounting a shaft having an axis and an outer end on the outer end of the handle, mounting a control ring on the shaft, the control ring being rotatable to selectively actuate a first predetermined vehicle function, mounting a control knob on the shaft, said control knob being rotatable to selectively actuate a second predetermined vehicle function, and mounting a push button on an outer end of the control knob, the push button being axially compressible to selectively actuate a third predetermined vehicle function.

Abstract: An improved gear train for the adjustment structure in a mirror includes a slip clutch disk connection that allows a pinion gear to rotate relative to an intermediate gear reduction. The pinion gear is engaged to rotate a rack, and the rack is connected to the mirror to adjust the position of the mirror. The rack is spring biased into engagement with the pinion, thus insuring that the two move with each other quietly and smoothly. The rack can be biased into engagement with the pinion gear, since it need not be able to slip relative to the pinion gear, as was the case in the prior art. The clutch disk allows the pinion gear to move with the rack when the mirror is manually adjusted. The inventive clutch disk is relatively simple, including a clutch drive gear rotatably journaled on a drive shaft. The drive shaft is fixed to rotate with the pinion gear. A spring biases a friction face of the clutch drive gear into engagement with the clutch disk, which also rotates with the pinion gear.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel is provided with a thin reconfigurable display such as an LED, an LCD, an electro-luminescent display, or other types of reconfigurable thin display. Vehicle instrument information such as speedometer, fuel level, vehicle temperature, engine speed, etc. are provided on this display. The reconfigurable display is provided with a control that reconfigures the location of the information on the display. The control is provided with a signal indicative of rotation of the steering wheel, and the control takes that signal and adjusts the information such that the displayed information maintains a particular orientation relative to the horizontal during a turn. With the present invention, the vehicle operator need only consult the vehicle steering wheel to obtain information about the vehicle condition. There are thus less constraints on the design of the steering wheel, and in the requirement of providing visual access to the instrument panel.

Abstract: An improved display for steering wheels places display elements on the rim of the steering wheel. In this way, an operator of a vehicle is less likely to ignore display elements such as turn signals or warning lights. In one embodiment, lights are utilized to display the informational element. In a second embodiment a reconfigurable thin display, such as an LED, an LCD or an electro-luminescent display, is utilized. In either embodiment, the displayed information may change with rotation of the steering wheel.

Abstract: An exterior side-mounted rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror shell having a sleeve mounted on a pivot cup. The pivot cup is selectively rotatable about the central axis of a post fixed to a vehicle. The assembly has complementary interlocking structure located at the base of the pivot cup and adjacent the base of the post. In combination with a spring and retainer which holds the spring against the pivot cup, these complementary structures allow for the selective rotation of the pivot cup about the post. The shell is mounted to the pivot cup in a non-rotatable fashion, by simply sliding the sleeve onto the pivot cup. The method of assembling the mirror assembly is thus simplified.

Abstract: The plastic substrate portion of the part is formed by a first injection of plastic into a mold, so as to adhere to an overlying sheet of coverstock material. A portion of the coverstock is not initially adhered to the substrate. A second injection of plastic forms the undecorated portion of the part, and bonds to the substrate portion to form a unitary plastic panel. In the course of contacting the substrate portion, the plastic from the second injection folds and hides the non-adhered portion of the cover stock, thereby forming a neat, clean split line.

Abstract: A mirror with an information display includes a mirror glass having a display section. In one embodiment, the mirror glass has a pyrolitic coating on a front surface and an opaque backmasking on the rear surface. Semi-transparent material, such as light control film, is disposed on the rear surface of the mirror glass at the display section. The display section is normally highly reflective of ambient light, but transmits light from a light source disposed behind the mirror glass when the light source is activated. In an alternate embodiment, light is directed from a light source onto the mirror glass at an angle, such that the light can be viewed by an adjacent vehicle, but the light does not interfere with the driver's reflective view in the mirror glass. Light from a light source is directed toward the outboard side of the mirror apparatus but is not visible when viewed from the inboard side of the mirror apparatus by the driver.

Abstract: A lighted mirror apparatus includes a mirror glass having one or more lighting sections. The mirror glass has a pyrolyric coating on the front surface and an opaque backmasking on the rear surface. Semi-transparent material, such as light control film, may be disposed on the rear surface of the mirror glass on the lighting sections. The lighting sections are normally highly reflective of ambient light, and thus provide additional mirror surface when the lights are deactivated. The lighting sections transmit light from one or more light sources disposed behind the mirror glass when the light sources are activated. Two lighting sections are preferably provided, with one at each end of the mirror surface. Several embodiments are disclosed.