Abstract: A vehicle bed assembly, and process of manufacture, which involves formation of a one-piece floor pan by roll forming. The floor pan has a central pan portion and secondary portions positioned forwardly and rearwardly of wheelwell openings formed in the pan adjacent opposite side edges thereof. Strengthening ribs extend longitudinally throughout the entire length of the pan and terminate at the front and rear edges. The strengthening ribs also extend longitudinally of the secondary portions and terminate at front and rear edges of the wheelwell openings. The one-piece floor pan has the wheelwell openings formed therein, as by a controlled notching operation, after the pan has been roll formed from flat sheet material, and the notching operation provides a series of flanges around the periphery of the wheelwell opening, both along the longitudinal inner edge and on the front and rear edges.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a clearance between a host pipe and a liner pipe. The liner pipe is fed into the host pipe and includes a tubular element forming a leading end of the liner pipe. It also includes a compressible seal which is adapted when compressed longitudinally to expand radially and is mounted on the tubular element when in use. The seal moves freely with the element in the direction of feeding of the liner pipe. But when the liner pipe is retracted counter to the direction of feeding, the seal movement is arrested and the seal compressed longitudinally by the element so that the seal expands radially to engage the internal wall of the host pipe and seal the clearance.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an external cylindrical or conic section shaped fixture which is tightly fit around the same shaped workpiece prior to expansion forming to a final dimension. During expansion forming, the external fixture is also deformed and is therefore designed for one-time use. The external cylindrical or conic section shaped fixture of the present invention is particularly useful for expansion forming of workpieces which contain brazed lap joints. The external fixture restrains, out-of-plane joint rotation and reduces the stress concentrations existing near the lap joints. Additionally, the external fixture provides additional load carrying capability to allow better load distribution during expansion forming. No change is required to the expansion forming machinery or the inner expander dies (jaws) with use of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of covering a flower pot with a floral grouping disposed therein. In the method, a sheet of material with a sheet extension connected to the outer peripheral edge of the sheet of material and extending a distance therefrom is formed about the flower pot to a position wherein the sheet of material extends about substantially the entire outer peripheral surface of the flower pot to provide a decorative covering and the sheet extension is formed about the floral grouping to a position wherein the sheet extension extends about a portion of the floral grouping to provide a protective covering. A portion of the sheet of material is then crimped to form a crimped portion in the sheet of material.

Abstract: A laundering implement is provided for cleaning an external surface of a vehicle. A plurality of spacers are supportable with respect to a path of travel for a vehicle to be cleaned and are arranged in first and second stacked or sandwiched groups of spacers for oscillating or rotating movement about a common axis of rotation or axial shifting oscillation along a common axis. The spacers are of a color different from that of the rest of the fixed structure of the laundering implement so that when the implement is in operation the moving spacers and cloth elements create an attractive and attention-getting visual effect. The colors of the spacers may be customized to suit the desires of any particular purchaser or operator of the vehicle laundry system. Each spacer has opposite complementary faces matable with an opposing face of an adjacent spacer. A plurality of cloth elements are interposed between adjacent stacked spacers for movement in concert therewith.

Abstract: The apparatus produces a honeycomb body, in particular a catalytic carrier body, from at least one stack of structured metal sheets which define a plurality of passages through which a fluid flows in the honeycomb body. The apparatus has a forked holding device which engages each stack, and former segments. The former segments are closeable to constitute a former. Each former segment has a respective surface portion. When the segments are closed, the surface portions jointly define the external shape of the honeycomb body to be produced. At least two of the former segments are displaceable such that at least a part of each surface portion, bearing against the stack, describes a path of movement towards free ends of the stack. The path of movement corresponds to the external shape of the honeycomb body.

Abstract: A closure panel hemming apparatus includes a lower support supporting a lower hemming die and an upper support spaced from and mounted above the lower support supporting an upper hemming die. The upper and lower supports are relatively vertically moveable for bringing the dies toward and away from one another. At least one guide post interconnects the upper and lower supports and maintains alignment of the upper and lower supports during movement thereof. A plurality of actuators of the ball screw or rack and pinion type is driveably connected to draw together the upper and lower supports bringing the dies together for edge hemming preformed metal panels nested between the dies.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sunshade for use with a vehicle having a sunroof includes cutting away material from a headliner to form a cutout and to define a sunroof opening in the headliner; and attaching edging to the cutout to form the sunshade. The sunshade produced by the method has improved color match and/or texture match with the headliner.

Abstract: A new and improved repair kit for vertical blind slat connection points for repairing broken or torn vertical blind slat mounting holes comprising a pliable member that is placed on a torn or broken vertical blind slat, that is self-adjusting to compensate for various thicknesses and supports the weight of a blind slat by a fastener placed through a hole in a vertical blind slat and pliable member whereby the vertical blind slat may be reattached to the blind set thereby restoring its original functionality.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement including a sealing ring with a support ring extending substantially in a radial direction. The support ring is joined in the radial direction to a first sealing element that lies in contact with and is nonrotatable with respect to a first machine element to form a static seal. The support ring is also joined in the radial direction to a second sealing element that is placed against a second machine element rotatably with respect to the second machine element to create a dynamic seal. The first and second sealing elements are each made of an elastomeric material, and the sealing ring has, in order to sense rotational movements of the first machine element about its axis, at least one auxiliary device that can move past a rotational speed sensor. The auxiliary device can be a multipole ring made of a pasty, hardenable, and magnetizable material that is arranged as a intermediate layer of film-like thinness on the side of the support ring facing the rotational speed sensor.

Abstract: A safety mirror lens assembly includes a mirror unit with a mirror lens that has a three-dimensional convex/ellipsoid reflective surface which terminates in an oval or round or other shape peripheral edge. The reflective surface is such that a notional line traced to coincides with the major axis has a first constant radius of curvature and a second notional line traced to coincide with the minor axis has a second constant radius of curvature. The first radius of curvature is substantially greater than the second radius of curvature. The mirror lens is usable for a cross-over mirror for a vehicle, for example, a school bus.

Abstract: A multiple piece bodyside molding includes a cover piece connected to a base piece. The cover is formed in a manner and shape so that it may be chrome-plated while reducing the likelihood of bath/tank contamination during the chrome-plating process. Subsequent to being chrome-plated, the cover is connected to the base so as to form the resulting bodyside molding.

Abstract: A method for using a support backer board system and siding. The support backer board system comprises at least a first layer. The first layer is made from a material selected from the group consisting of alkenyl aromatic polymers, polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalate, polyesters, and combinations thereof. The board system is thermoformed into a desired shape with the desired shape being generally contour to the selected siding. The siding is attached to the board system so as to provide support thereto. In one process, the siding may be vinyl.

Abstract: An apparatus for mechanically connecting modular chemical delivery substrate blocks in single layer and/or multiple lower layer configurations via axial and intermediate locations in such a way that all joint locations (including mounting fixtures to a rigid mechanism for mounting purposes) are completely accessible from the top surface of the assembly for fastening or unfastening the joints of the blocks. A design using the method of the present invention and incorporating current semiconductor standards (such as SEMI 2787) dictates specific mechanical dimensions and fastener localities in order to be properly implemented. Use of this top access fastener design results in minimal numbers of substrate joints in a chemical delivery system being affected when removing any one block from the system.

Abstract: A rewind spring in a cassette for a seat belt retractor is assembled by first placing a mechanism cover on a winding jig. An arbor is fitted to a winding shaft of the jig. One end of a coiled metal bank spring is then fixed to the spring arbor. The band is then wound onto the arbor in the mechanism cover and a spring cover is fitted to the mechanism cover. Finally, a locking clip is attached to the spring cover to lock the arbor against rotation. A spring arbor for use in the cassette has a generally cylindrical shape and an axially extending slot for receiving an end of the spring. A step is provided in the profile of the cylindrical outer surface of the arbor in the region of the slot to compensate for the thickness of the band wound thereon.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing a plurality of laminae for use in a mold suitable for use in forming retroreflective cube corner articles. Each lamina has opposing first and second major surfaces defining therebetween a first reference plane. Each lamina further includes a working surface connecting the first and second major surfaces. The working surface defines a second reference plane substantially parallel to the working surface and perpendicular to the first reference plane and a third reference plane perpendicular to the first reference plane and the second reference plane. The method includes orienting a plurality of laminae to have their respective first reference planes parallel to each other and disposed at a first angle relative to a fixed reference axis. At least two groove sets are formed in the working surface. Each groove set includes at least two parallel adjacent V-shaped grooves in the working surface of the laminae.

Abstract: To fasten a reinforcement frame in an opening in a vehicle roof member, the roof member is supported on a flanging bed and moved in succession against flanging edges of a plurality of flanging jaws. To insert the jaws into the roof opening, the jaws can be displaced in a plurality of moves of individual jaws parallel to the plane of the opening in which jaws are withdrawn from straight portions of the margin of the opening to permit corner jaws to be withdrawn from comer portions of the opening.

Abstract: The system includes means for moving a rivet or a collar from a storage bin to an initial position for the respective gripping assemblies. The presence of the rivet and/or collar is recognized as it moves through a feeding mechanism. After the rivet or collar is gripped, they are moved either into an opening in the workpiece, in the case of a rivet, or onto the tail of a lockbolt, in the case of a collar. The gripping assembly is then released from the rivet or the collar, with the gripping means moving back to an initial position. Further operations can then be carried out on the rivet or collar.

Abstract: A trailer construction method that uses a factory constructed chassis from a front wheel drive, uni-body van in combination with a conversion kit to construct a closed trailer.

Abstract: A stent crimping tool for firmly and uniformly crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter is constructed from a crimping section holding the stent and the balloon catheter therein, wherein the crimping is actuated by a shaft having an input end and an output end, engaging the crimping section at the output end. The shaft has a detent formed into the input end. A gripping member has an internal cavity to receive the input end, and includes a hole proximate to the shaft, wherein a ball bearing and a compression spring are located within the hole to bias the ball bearing toward the shaft and to engage the detent. When a torque is applied to the gripping member, it is transmitted through the ball bearing to the shaft; if the torque exceeds a predetermined magnitude, it overcomes the force of the spring on the ball bearing causing the bearing to slide out of the detent thereby disconnecting the applied torque from the shaft. The crimping section can be a rubber tube having a lumen holding the stent and catheter.