Abstract: An inflator according to the present invention comprises a valve body having a replaceable pressure cartridge that is pierced by a piercing pin is operated by an actuating lever to inflate an attached object. The valve body is mounted in a protective housing, and a lanyard carried by the actuating lever extends through an opening in the housing. The lanyard carries an indicia member that emerges from the housing when the handle is pulled to actuate the valve to provide a visible reminder that the cartridge has been discharged and needs replacing. The piercing pin slides in a sleeve slidable in a piercing pin chamber. A spring biases the piercing pin into engagement with the actuating lever. The lever is pivotable from stored to actuated positions to force the pin to pierce the pressure cartridge. An interlock comprising interengageable locking surfaces of the actuator lever and on the pin prevent movement of the lever from actuated position unless the discharged cartridge has been removed.

Abstract: A lumbar support for a motor vehicle seat or the like is provided. The support includes a pair of vertically mounted bands supported by an upper support band and a bracket, respectively. The vertical bands are bowed towards the front of the seat. An adjustment band is pivotably mounted to a rotatable plate on the bracket for controlling the bowing of the vertical bands. A spring is mounted between the upper support band and the bracket and pulls them towards each other.

Abstract: A remote control system which includes (a) a receiver unit adapted to be fixedly mounted on a motor vehicle having at least one door lock with a first locked condition and a second unlocked condition and having means for receiving a coded signal including a code portion of binary bits, memory means for storing a first code of binary bits, means for comparing the code portion of a received coded signal with the first code and means for shifting the controlled device to one of the conditions upon the comparison match between the code portion of a received signal and the stored first code and (b) a transmitting unit for transmitting the stored second code of binary bits when the door lock is to be shifted into one of its conditions.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the fore and aft positions of motor vehicle pedal assemblies is provided. The assembly includes a pair of parallel, threaded shafts, each of which is connected to a gear assembly for simultaneous rotation. A cross rod is threadably mounted to each shaft and one or more pedal assemblies are pivotably mounted to the cross rod. The pedal assemblies and cross rod move in a direction which is parallel to the threaded shafts upon rotation of these shafts. A pulley assembly is also threadably mounted to one of the shafts and moves in the same directions as the cross rods during shaft rotation. The pulley cable is connected at one end to an accelerator pedal assembly and at the opposite end to the vehicle throttle. An elongate housing is connected to the booster input for the vehicle braking system while a threaded rod extending therefrom is connected to a brake pedal assembly.

Abstract: A parking brake assembly is provided including a sleeve or torque tube for locking or releasing a parking brake. The assembly includes a mounting bracket, an axle extending through the bracket, and a U-shaped handle assembly secured to the ends of the axle. A ratchet is secured to the mounting bracket. A pawl is pivotably mounted adjacent to the ratchet. The pawl is connected to the torque tube by a connecting rod. A spring urges the torque tube in a first direction, thereby causing the pawl to engage the ratchet. Rotation of the torque tube in the opposite direction causes the pawl to pivot away form the ratchet, thereby allowing the operator to release the brake.

Abstract: A self-contained and self-supporting wire suspension system is provided for use within a seat construction. The system includes either one bolster wire or a pair of parallel bolster wires, a set of parallel stringer wires wrapped around the bolster wire(s), and a pair of parallel border wires secured to the free ends of the stringer wires. The system further includes a top or seat supporting portion defined by the segments of the stringer wires which extend between the bolster wires or between one border wire and a bolster wire. The top portion is resiliently supported by at least one leg portion defined by stringer wire segments extending between bolster and border wires. The border wires are secured to a support surface or a wire frame. Lateral support members extend diagonally between the leg portions to provide stability. The stringer wires may be embedded within a plastic foam seat cushion.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a hollow socket and hollow plug therefor and a specific snap clip for locking the plug in the socket by normally bridging radially aligned cooperating grooves in said plug and socket. The plug and socket may include cooperating surfaces between which a gasket or O-ring may be seated for sealing the coupling. The clip primarily comprises a pair of cooperating semicircular diametrically oppositely movable semiannuli or ring sections connected at one of their adjacent parallel ends by an integral spring loop extending substantially axially from the plane of the semiannuli or ring sections. This loop is provided with a pair of parallel legs joined at one end to the adjacent parallel ends of said semiannuli and at their other ends to a more than semi-circular ring. This loop normally urges said semiannuli outwardly into the groove in the socket.

Abstract: An improved coupling for connecting an arresting pendant and the woven tape utilized in an aircraft arresting system is provided. The coupling consists of an elongated hollow body having at least one open end and a longitudinal slot which extends into its hollow interior. A mounting bracket for connection of the coupling to the arresting system pendant is attached to the side of the coupling body which is opposite from the slot. The tape from the arresting system is wrapped between and around a plurality of clamping bars and is then inserted through an open end of the coupling body with the connected end of the tape extending through the longitudinal slot. The clamping bars are sized and shaped to substantially fill the interior of the coupling body and to grip to the tape which is wrapped then around.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a regulator for moving a window in a vehicle door ccessively substantially vertically and horizontally and vice versa. In other words, once the window is closed vertically the lower edge may be moved outwardly horizontally to become more flush with the outside surface of the door of the vehicle. The regulator comprises a closed loop of cable wrapped about a reversible driving drum and having a vertical reach which is attached to a pulley connected to the carrier for the window. This pulley is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite cam follower pins or rollers that are guided in a vertical slot parallel to the vertical reach of cable, which slot has a bifurcated or Y-shaped pair of slots at its upper end for rotating the pulley up to about 180.degree. when the pulley reaches the "Y" and the cable means continues to pull.

Abstract: Portable aircraft arresting apparatus is comprised of a towable wheeled trailer providing a platform adapted to be anchored along a runway or landing strip and which carries component parts to selectively provide a cable-type or net-type aircraft arresting system. In connection with a net-type system, the platform includes a stanchion assembly including a stanchion mast. The mast is stored in a horizontal position relative to the platform and is elevated to an inclined position to support a net together with a like platform positioned on the opposite side of the landing strip. To accommodate selectivity and rapid conversion between cable and net-type systems, the platform on opposite sides of the landing strip are reversely oriented, and the stanchion assembly on one of the platforms is detached and reversely mounted on the platform for the inclined stanchion masts on opposite sides of the landing strip to be parallel to one another and inclined in the direction of landing.

Abstract: A tool assembly for shaping workpieces, which comprises a reciprocable punch having a working end engageable with a die to shape a workpiece therebetween. The punch is mounted at its driven end on a reciprocable punch actuator and extends through a floating punch guide having an end adjacent the die which is axially and circumferentially engaged with a recess in the die to align the die and punch axes during the workpiece shaping operation. A workpiece feed tube opens laterally into the punch guide, and the punch guide is reciprocable in response to reciprocation of the punch to open and close the discharge end of the feed tube so as to assure singular feeding of workpieces to the die cavity.

Abstract: An improved manually operable gearshift mechanism includes a support of sheet metal construction and a gearshift selector mounted on the support by a ball and socket arrangement for pivotal movement about first and second orthogonal axes. The gearshift selector is pivotal to a plurality of positions relative to the support to position a pair of gearshifting cables in positions corresponding to selectable transmission gears. The positioning of one of the gearshifting cables is achieved by a bellcrank pivotally mounted on the support and displaceable by a pin extending from the ball and displaceable about the second axis with the gearshift selector. Positioning of the other gearshifting cable is achieved by a link forming an extension of the gearshift selector below the first and second axes and which link is pivotal with the gearshift selector about the first axis.

Abstract: A cable winding drum is provided with a ring gear having internal gear teeth and external ratchet teeth, and the drum and gear are supported in a housing for rotation in opposite directions about a drum axis to achieve winding and unwinding of a cable relative to the drum. The drum is rotated in opposite directions by an operating mechanism including a crank actuated crank and pinion assembly, a pawl and a pawl actuating lever. The pinion is supported by the housing and engages the internal gear teeth and, during rotation of the crank in the winding direction, the pinion rotates the drum and the pawl engages the ratchet teeth to preclude rotation of the drum in the unwinding direction. Upon rotation of the crank in the unwinding direction during engagement of the pawl with the ratchet teeth, the cam displaces the pawl actuating lever to release the pawl from engagement with the ratchet teeth to release the drum for rotation in the unwinding direction.

Abstract: There is provided an improvement in a seat belt retractor mechanism of the type having a seat belt reel rotatably mounted in a support frame adapted to be assembled on a movable door of a vehicle, wherein the reel has at least on one end a generally circular ratchet plate for engaging a locking element movably mounted on the support frame between a first position allowing the reel to payout the belt freely and a second position engaging the ratchet plate to hold the reel against rotation to payout the seat belt. An inertia sensing element carried by the support frame shifts this locking element into the locked position upon being moved by inertia forces caused by rapid acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle to which the mechanism is mounted. In addition, an electromagnet is employed for increasing the amount of inertia force needed to move the inertia sensor element during such rapid changes in speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A multiple stake anchoring system for portable aircraft arresting gear including a stake guide for directing a first stake into the ground at a predetermined angle, a stake driven into the ground through the stake guide, a spacer collar mounted on the stake guide by sliding over the top of the stake, and a rigid elongated stake tie having parallel cylindrical passages through each of its ends mounted on the spacer collar by sliding one passage thereof over the stake. A second stake is driven into the ground through the cylindrical passage in the distal end of the stake tie. The second stake is rigidly connected to the first stake by the stake tie and has the same angle of inclination with respect to the plane of the ground because the two cylindrical passages through the stake tie are parallel.

Abstract: A liquid level sensor is provided which includes a base assembly and a dipstick assembly. The base assembly includes an electronic printed circuit board assembly, electrical connections to both the dipstick assembly and a wiring harness, and a mounting assembly for securing it to an engine dipstick tube. The dipstick assembly includes a cap, a tube, and a sensor element. The cap is designed to provide the necessary keying and locking features to mate with the base assembly. The tube provides protection for lead wires which connect the sensing element to the printed circuit board assembly.

Abstract: A foot operated vehicle parking brake mechanism comprises a brake pedal lever and a brake cable actuator pivotal about a common axis, the brake pedal lever being operable upon depression to displace the cable actuator to a cable tensioning position in which the vehicle brake is set. The cable actuator and pedal lever are independently releaseably retained in the cable tensioning and depressed positions and, respectively, against the bias of the tensioned cable and a pedal lever biasing spring. A manually operable release mechanism operates to release the pedal lever from its depressed position and, during return of the pedal lever to its retracted position, the pedal lever operates to release the cable actuator for return to its released position.

Abstract: A fluid level sensor utilizes thick film thermistors in a four-thermistor bridge configuration. The bridge is heated by a heater to sense the presence or absence of fluid at a particular level with respect to the thermistors. Upon energizing the bridge with a power source, the middle leads thereof are monitored for voltage separation and polarity. An indicator circuit indicates when one or more of the thermistors is submerged in the fluid. The heater influences the temperature of the thermistors to a greater or lesser extent depending upon whether or not they are submerged. Detectable changes in voltages across the bridge are accordingly produced.

Abstract: An integral strut and groove protector assembly is provided for incorporation within a light metal piston. The assembly includes a ring groove protector, an expansion control strut, and a connecting member connecting the groove protector and strut. All are stamped as one piece from a sheet metal substrate. The piston is cast about two such assemblies arranged in opposing relation within a mold. Each ring groove protector traverses an arc of somewhat less than one hundred eighty degrees to facilitate the manufacturing process.