Abstract: A column shift device for motor vehicles includes a steering column, and a hand lever secured to the steering column in the vicinity of the upper end and including a knob arranged in the vicinity of the steering wheel and comprising two different and separate portions.

Abstract: An operating apparatus for an automatic transmission, comprises: a select lever connected to automatic transmission end; a first rotation supporting point provided at a middle position of the select lever and supporting the select lever in such a manner as to freely rotate; a second rotation supporting point provided at a position apart from the first rotation supporting point in the select lever at a predetermined distance; an operating lever rotatably connected to the select lever through the second rotation supporting point; a positioned member provided at a predetermined position in the operating lever; and a positioning member for determining a position of the positioned member to a predetermined position.

Abstract: An operating apparatus for an automatic transmission, comprises: a select lever connected to the automatic transmission end; a first rotation supporting point provided at a middle position of the select lever and supporting the select lever in such a manner as to freely rotate; a second rotation supporting point provided at a position apart from the first rotation supporting point in the select lever at a predetermined distance; an operating lever rotatably connected to the select lever through the second rotation supporting point; a positioned member provided at a predetermined position in the operating lever; and a positioning member for determining a position of the positioned member to a predetermined position.

Abstract: An operating apparatus for an automatic transmission, comprises: a select lever connected to the automatic transmission end; a first rotation supporting point provided at a middle position of the select lever and supporting the select lever in such a manner as to freely rotate; a second rotation supporting point provided at a position apart from the first rotation supporting point in the select lever at a predetermined distance; an operating lever rotatably connected to the select lever through the second rotation supporting point; a positioned member provided at a predetermined position in the operating lever; and a positioning member for determining a position of the positioned member to a predetermined position.

Abstract: An airbag restraint system for an automotive vehicle includes an airbag made up of front and rear sheets which are generally circular and sewn together at their peripheral portions. When retracted in a central part of a steering wheel, the airbag is folded in a deflated condition along two lines which are parallel and separate from each other and located such that a central opening for an inflator is positioned therebetween. A region of the rear sheet between the two bending lines is coated with a coating material to prevent gas flow therethrough. When retracted in the steering wheel, the airbag has a space which is formed between the coated section of the rear sheet and the front sheet, which is coated at its whole surface with the coating material, so that the space is confined by the coated sections of the front and rear sheets. When gas is ejected from an inflator into the space, the airbag can be effectively developed to ensure inflation of the airbag.

Abstract: An airbag of an airbag restraint system for an automotive vehicle. The airbag is formed of a circular doubly woven cloth including generally circular front and rear cloth parts which are separable from and integral at their periphery with each other to define therebetween a gas chamber to be filled with high pressure gas from an inflator. Each of front and rear cloth parts is formed with a generally rectangular reinforcement regions located near the periphery of the cloth part. The reinforcement region includes two warp band-like regions which are separate from each other and located near the periphery of the cloth part. The reinforcement region further includes two weft band-like regions which are separate from each other and located near the periphery of the cloth part. The weft band-like regions cross the warp yarn band-like regions, so that the reinforcement region is formed generally rectangular. Reinforcement yarns are woven in each of the warp and weft band-like regions.

Abstract: A method of producing an airbag of an airbag restraint system to protect an automotive vehicle passenger from a secondary impact inside the vehicle in the event of a serious collision. The producing method is carried out as follows: A loom weaves an extending cloth including a linearly aligned doubly woven cloth sections each having first and second singly woven cloth portions which are separate from each other, each doubly woven cloth section forming part of an airbag. A first coating is formed continuously on whole one surface of the extending woven cloth. A second coating is formed continuously on a straight extending central part of the other surface of the extending woven cloth. A hole for an inflator is formed at a central part of the second singly woven cloth portion of the doubly woven cloth section. Each part of the woven cloth corresponding to the airbag is trimmed from the extending woven cloth. Finally, the trimmed part is turned inside out by drawing the inside surface through the hole.

Abstract: An airbag cover for covering an airbag stored in its folded state within a steering wheel or instrument panel of an automobile. The air bag cover is formed of a planar woven fabric having two pair of cut-outs, each pair being two cut-outs diagonally opposite from each other. The woven fabric consists of a warp yarn and a weft yarn, with the warp yarn having a weave parallel to a line connecting one of the two pair of cutouts and the weft yarn having a weave parallel to a line connecting the other pair of cutouts. The warp and weft, by extending parallel between cutouts, facilitates ready tearing of the cover between the cutouts when the bag is inflated.

Abstract: An air bag system for an automotive vehicle includes gas generator means for generating a pressurized gas for expanding an air bag for restricting movement of a passenger and thus for preventing the passenger from colliding onto the vehicular interior facility and/or a windshield. The gas generator means comprises a low pressure gas generator and a high pressure gas generator having mutually different gas generation capacity. Upon collision, the low pressure gas generator is triggered to fire at earlier timing than that of the high pressure gas generator for reducing impact exerted on the passenger at the initial stage of air bag actuation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an arrangement of an air-bag device in a motor vehicle having a passenger room, a windshield and an instrument panel. The arrangement comprises a first structure defining an opening in an upper part of the instrument panel; a base member secured to a fixed member of the vehicle and located at a position below the opening; a gas generator mounted on the base member for generating gas when operated; an air-bag held by the base member, the air-bag being exposed through the opening to the passenger room and fully expanded in the same when the gas generator operates; a lid member for covering the opening of the instrument panel, the lid member being pivoted up to open when pressed by the air-bag under expansion; and a second structure for restricting the opening angle of the lid member relative to the upper part of the instrument panel thereby to direct the air-bag under expansion toward a desired position of the passenger room.

Abstract: A battery mounting structure for an automotive vehicle, wherein a battery is held in an elastic relationship with respect to the vehicle body so as to be free to vibrate relative to the vehicle body while being prevented from accidentally coming loose. Thus, the relatively large inertial mass of the battery serves to suppress vibration of the vehicle body, while other parts disposed in the engine compartment near the battery are protected from damage due to unrestrained movement of the battery.

Abstract: An automatic vehicle rear part construction configurated to prevent unpleasant booming noise from comming out within a vehicle passenger compartment. The construction consists of a rear suspension member located under and secured at its opposite end sections to a vehicle body rear part. Wheel supporting members with rear wheels are swingably connected to the rear suspension member. Additionally, a rigid connecting member is provided to connect the axially central portion of the rear suspension member and the vehicle body, thereby suppressing forward and rearward vibration of the rear suspension member.

Abstract: An automobile has an exhaust tube with a muffler at the tail end thereof, which exhaust tube has a bent portion having portions of an oblong shape in cross section.

Abstract: A jacking point structure for an automotive vehicle, includes a bracket fixed to the underside of a trunk compartment at a rear portion of the vehicle, and a hook fixed to the bracket. The bracket has a first wall extending horizontally and a second wall extending vertically. Also, the bracket has a channel portion at its center which functions as a jacking point preferably at the rear end of the first wall. The hook extends horizontally in the backward direction of the vehicle and does not project downwardly. It is preferable that the hook is formed in a U-shape and welded at its legs to the first wall in such a manner that the channel portion of the bracket is held between the legs of the hook.

Abstract: A panel reinforcement structure construction for attaching to and reinforcing a vehicle structural panel. An elongate channel member has two side sections and is secured at the elongate open section thereof to the vehicle structural panel. An arm is attached to each channel member side section, and each arm extends from the end of the channel member transversely to the elongate axis of the channel member. An attachment flange is attached to each channel member arm in a manner to also attach to the vehicle structural panel to reinforce the structural integrity thereof and resist the effect of shear forces acting transversely on the elongate channel member.