Abstract: A steering knuckle assembly for the drive wheels of automotive vehicles including a carrier component adapted to be secured to the wheel suspension and carrying a floating-caliper brake and a wheel axle bearing, and a rotatably mounted wheel axle having a constant-velocity joint for the drive and a flange for the attachment of a brake disc. According to the present invention, the carrier component with the disc brake and the wheel axle bearing together with the wheel axle, the flange, the brake disc and a bowl shaped part of the constant-velocity joint are coupled to form a module which can be secured to the wheel suspension as a preassembled unit in the final assembly of the automotive vehicle.

Abstract: A shoe type apparatus is disclosed comprising a roller skate assembly having at least four wheels coupled to a sole portion of the shoe type apparatus for roller skating, and an in-line skate assembly having another set of wheels coupled to the sole portion for in-line skating. The shoe type apparatus provides at least three distinct configurations of the roller skate and in-line skate assemblies, namely having the wheels of the roller skate assembly lower than, level with, or higher than the wheels of the in-line skate assembly. This flexible arrangement permits a user to roller skate, to roller blade, or to perform a new combination thereof.

Abstract: A position adjustment device for a direction reversing guide for vehicle safety belts includes a guide rail, a displacement element with an arresting mechanism, advancing member, replacement member and possibly displacement levers. This height-adjustment device is suitable for high stresses and at the same time can be simply and inexpensively produced. The guide rail (1) essentially has a C-shaped cross section, the adjustment element (12, 12') is guided along end strips (3) of the guide rail (1), and a detent element (19), which is taken along by the adjustment element (12, 12') extends through recesses (6, 18) in the guide rail (1) and the displacement element (12, 12'). A metal spring (21, 32), which forces the detent element (19) into the recesses (6, 18), is provided for maintaining the arrested position at the adjustment element (12, 12'), and a position restoring spring for the position adjustment device is also provided.

Abstract: A control circuit is provided for transferring power and communication signals through a wireless coupling device in a vehicle steering column. The device can comprise a rotary transformer having a primary and secondary magnetic structure respectfully associated with the wheel side and column side of the steering column. A squib power circuit transforms a high energy power signal suitable for firing an air bag from the column side to the wheel side. A low energy power circuit generates a signal from the column side to the wheel side suitable for operating isolated wheel side electronics, such as cruise control and the like. A tone encoder and decoder circuit communicates low level control signals suitable for signalling wheel side commands from the wheel side to the column side. The low energy power circuit and the tone encoder circuit operate simultaneously and continuously without signal debilitating interaction.

Abstract: A vertical adjuster for a deflection fitting of a vehicle safety belt includes a rail with a base part. The rail has at least one fastening screw for being fastened to a vehicle body. The rail further includes a deformation element allowing a displacement of said rail relative to the fastening screw. The deformation element is arranged on a side of the base part which is facing away from the vehicle body when the rail is mounted thereon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lining element for vehicles, which is designed to protect the passengers and has an essentially rigid support on which is provided an inflatable cushion, and a trim layer on the side of the support facing the interior. A simple solution is achieved by providing that the support be gas-tight and that the trim layer have a gas-tight finish and be releasably attached to a gas-tight coating over a given area.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) for, when inflated, helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. The protection device (12) has an inner surface (28) defining a volume (27) into which vehicle inflation fluid is directed to inflate the protection device. A source (14) of inflation fluid is provided which, when actuated, provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (12). A catalytic reducing material (50) for reducing components of the inflation fluid is adhered to at least a portion of the inner surface (28) of the protection device (12).

Abstract: A system for leveling a vehicle such as a recreational vehicle or the like includes three jacks in the form of hydraulic cylinders mounted to the vehicle frame. A series of manually actuated switches, oriented in a diamond pattern, are located within the interior of the vehicle and are interconnected with the jacks to provide selective extension of the jacks to adjust the attitude of the vehicle relative to level. A level sensor is mounted to the vehicle and is interconnected with the jacks and the switches, and an operating system is responsive to the level sensor for controlling operation of the jacks and providing information to the control panel. The operating system alerts the operator as to which of the switches should be actuated in order to level the vehicle, and also functions to cut-off extension of each jack when the level sensor has detected that the vehicle in the vicinity of the jack has attained a level condition.

Abstract: A discrete air bag tear seam is provided in the finishing cover of an interior component of an automotive vehicle. An applique installed on the cover has an elongated external decorator head concealing the tear seam. Elongated and laterally spaced retention flanges of the applique stabilize and releasably retain the cover at the tear seam. The applique is secured to a fixed retainer part of the component and operates by releasing the cover at the tear seam to form an air bag door in response to the forced outward movement of an underlying door substrate on air bag deployment. The underlying door substrate exerts a force on the cover and particularly the outer skin thereof and causes it to pull away from the applique starting at the concealed tear seam to establish an opening for improved air bag deployment.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a gas bag cover on a part of a vehicle is provided, which comprises an attachment rib on the gas bag cover and an interlocking snap connection adapted to act on the attachment rib. The interlocking snap connection includes a locking element which is movably mounted on the vehicle part and is acted on by a spring element adapted to displace the locking element from an initial position into a locking position. The interlocking snap connection further comprises a detent mechanism which prevents the spring element from displacing the locking element when the latter is in its initial position. The detent mechanism is adapted to release the locking element during mounting the gas bag cover at the vehicle part.

Abstract: A seat belt anchorage plate for a seat belt device formed with a plate shaped member (base) 2 is provided with a slot 6 into which a belt (waist belt) 13 is inserted and which has long edge parts opposed with each other. The belt 13 is folded back along the one long edge part 691 of the opposed long edge parts in the slot 6 so that the one long edge part 691 bears the tension of the belt 13. The one long edge part 691 is formed so as to expand in the direction opposite to that of the tension of the belt 13 toward a central part from both ends in its longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A deployment structure (32) encloses and conceals an inflator (20) and an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) in a vehicle. The deployment structure (32) is a unitary plastic part defining a deployment door (86) having a Class A surface (76). The unitary plastic part further defines a mounting flap (114) having an aperture (126), and another mounting flap (116) having another aperture (128). The mounting flaps (114 and 116) are movable relative to one another to positions in which the apertures (126 and 128) are aligned to receive a mounting stud (36) which supports the inflator (20) and the protection device (12) in the vehicle.

Abstract: A drive system for a grounds care device using two identical final drives in combination with two identical power units to provide directional drive to the wheels.The final drives and power units are assembled to each other differently for use on each side to provide the required relative reverse rotation of each drive wheel while maintaining the same direction of control movement for forward (or reverse) movement of each drive wheel (in regards to machine movement).Additionally, the drive belt for the cutting unit is routed between the power units (rather than under or over) to allow a lower center of gravity for increased stability.

Abstract: A collapsible steering column for a motor vehicle has an elongated hollow cylinder slidably mounted on a piston while also fast to the piston for rotary movement. The space between the interior wall of the cylinder and the piston is sealed in a gas-tight fashion. A head is attached to the top of the cylinder. The head has a frangible seal hermetically secured inside it so that the top of the piston, the interior wall of the cylinder and the seal define an air cavity. The cavity is under pressure such that the cylinder is supported by a column of pressurized gas. A coil spring inside the cylinder urges the piston and the bottom of the cylinder apart. The seal has a bore in which resides an explosive compound. Lead lines connect the explosive compound with an electronic collision sensor, which is located in the front of the vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus for inflating a vehicle air bag and for reducing the inflation rate of the air bag in the event that an occupant of the vehicle engages the air bag before it is fully inflated, including a gas generating unit for producing an inflation gas in response to a predetermined impact to the vehicle, and an aspiration unit operatively connected to the gas generating unit and to the air bag. The aspiration unit includes an ambient air inlet, a mixing chamber in communication with the air inlet, and one or more nozzles in communication with the gas generating unit and the mixing chamber for directing inflation gas into the mixing chamber to aspirate ambient air through the air inlet into the mixing chamber so that a mixture of ambient air and generated inflation gas is created for the inflation of the air bag.

Abstract: A system for leveling a vehicle such as a recreational vehicle or the like includes three jacks in the form of hydraulic cylinders mounted to the vehicle frame. A series of manually actuated switches, oriented in a diamond pattern, are located within the interior of the vehicle and are interconnected with the jacks to provide selective extension of the jacks to adjust the attitude of the vehicle relative to level. A level sensor is mounted to the vehicle and is interconnected with the jacks and the switches, and an operating system is responsive to the level sensor for controlling operation of the jacks and providing information to the control panel. The operating system alerts the operator as to which of the switches should be actuated in order to level the vehicle, and also functions to cut-off extension of each jack when the level sensor has detected that the vehicle in the vicinity of the jack has attained a level condition.

Abstract: A suspension system for supporting a frame member on one side of a vehicle chassis on the adjacent end of an axle includes first and second frame brackets, a single-leaf leaf spring, a leaf spring attachment member and a wear plate. The first and second frame brackets are mounted to the frame member on the outer sides thereof. The front end of the single-leaf leaf spring is pivotally connected to the frame member at the first frame bracket and the rear end thereof is connected to the frame member at the second frame bracket. The leaf spring attachment member mounts to the rear end of the leaf spring and connects the leaf spring with the second frame bracket. The leaf spring attachment member includes an arcuate upper surface and a bottom surface. A rebound bolt connects the rear end of the leaf spring and the leaf spring attachment member with the second frame bracket and restricts the movement of the leaf spring to a controlled range.

Abstract: In a safety device for a motor vehicle, an air-bag is provided having a gas inlet to receive gas from a gas generator. One or more straps pass from a point on the bag spaced from the gas inlet to a fixed point. Apparatus are provided to release the strap in response to a predetermined signal from a sensor.

Abstract: A height-adjustable fastening system for a safety belt of a vehicle has a guide track and a slide slidably connected to the guide track and arrestable in various positions along the guide track. A fastening or guiding bracket is connected to the slide. A Bowden cable arrangement has a first end connected to the slide and a second end connected to a vehicle seat displaceable on a first and second seat tracks. The Bowden cable arrangement includes a sleeve and a cable pull displaceably guided within the sleeve. A stationary guide is positioned in the vicinity of the first seat track. The Bowden cable arrangement is guided about the stationary guide and the sleeve is connected to the stationary guide. The cable pull is connected with a first end to the vehicle seat at a fastening location remote from the stationary guide. The cable pull transmits a displacement movement of the vehicle seat onto the slide.

Abstract: An air bag system for protecting a passenger seated on the front passenger seat of a vehicle is provided. In an initial stage, the air bag is inflated mildly. In the subsequent stage, the bag is inflated also mildly. The directivity of produced gas is reduced. The air bag is inflated mildly while maintaining a large area. The air bag system comprises an air bag case having an opening on its top side, an inflator disposed inside the air bag case, the aforementioned air bag folded in the air bag case, and a diffuser mounted between the inflator and the opening in the case. The air bag is placed in a side-by-side relation to the inflator and located behind the inflator inside the case. The diffuser is provided with numerous holes for supplying the gas. The diffuser acts to regulate flow of the gas from the inflator. At least when the gas is produced from the inflator, a space is created between the outer surface of the inflator and the diffuser.