Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a generally horizontal sitting portion connected to a generally vertical backrest, and an armrest connected to the sitting portion or the armrest. At least one of the sitting portion, the backrest, or the armrest includes a plastically deformable cellular structural material arranged therein. Another embodiment is an armrest for a vehicle seat including an elastically deformable cushion material and a plastically deformable cellular structural material. A further embodiment is a vehicle seat including a sitting portion connected to a backrest, and an armrest connected to at least one of the sitting portion and the backrest. The armrest includes an elastically deformable cushion material and a plastically deformable cellular structural material. A variation of the armrest includes a barrier interposed between the cushion material and the cellular structural material. The sitting portion and the backrest each include plastically deformable cellular structural material arranged therein.

Abstract: This invention relates to chassis and body panel structural systems for a wide variety of vehicles, including automotive, water vessels, aircraft and human powered vehicles, principally comprising a node and interlocking spaceframe system that can be hand assembled in the field. The invention also comprises a key and lock system for wedgingly interlocking body panels to the spaceframe. Together these systems comprise novel Frame Integration Technology (FIT) of the invention. Examples of vehicles include autos, utility vehicles (trucks), public transport vehicles, light boats, human powered vehicles such as bicycles, pedicabs and the like, and light aircraft.

Abstract: An upwardly retracting vehicle door is disclosed, such as for use on the rear of a mini-van. The door includes a lower primary door panel and an upper secondary door panel, such as a glass window, that is retractable into the primary door panel. The primary door panel includes rollers on both side edges for slidably mounting the primary door panel on channels located on the vehicle body. When the primary door panel is opened, the window retracts into the primary door panel while the primary door panel travels upward toward the window and along an arcuate path preferably into a pocket within the vehicle roof. In a first embodiment of the invention, a single weather seal is used for both the primary door panel and window on each side with the primary door panel sliding over the seal when opening and closing. In a second embodiment, separate seals for the primary door panel and window are used on each side.

Abstract: Various advances are disclosed pertaining to vertically sliding automobile doors of the type which retract under the vehicle floor to open, and rotate upward to close, and in the elevated closed position become an integral part of the vehicle's structural chassis frame.

Abstract: A vehicle side impact air bag system is disclosed wherein the air bag is located in an outboard armrest. During a collision, the air bag deploys outward away from the occupant and against the vehicle door or side body panel. Preferably, the air bag fills the entire space between the occupant and the door in order to protect the torso, neck and head of the occupant during the collision. The inventive system may be used with a movable door or an adjacent portion of the vehicle body. Various embodiments are disclosed, including pivotably attaching the armrest to the seat, removably attaching the armrest to the seat, attaching the armrest to the floor, forming the armrest in the floor, and attaching the armrest to the door or vehicle body.

Abstract: A side intrusion beam is disclosed for mounting within a vehicle door to inhibit intrusion into the vehicle during a collision. The intrusion beam spans across substantially the entire main portion (i.e. non-window portion) of the door. Structural keys located on the four corners of the intrusion beam mate with complementary shaped receptacles on the door jamb when the door is closed to anchor the intrusion beam to the vehicle chassis. Preferably, the intrusion beam includes a framework of truss members which create an overall outwardly curved shape. In the preferred embodiment, the entire framework is constructed from two sheet metal stampings that are welded together, forming a void therebetween. A structural foam can be injected into the void to increase strength and deaden sound.

Abstract: A motor vehicle chassis is disclosed wherein a conventionally hinged door is integrated with and becomes a structural part of the main chassis when the door is closed. Wedge-shaped structural keys located on the forward and rearward edges of the door engage mating receptacles on the door jamb to transmit compressive, tensile, and torsional forces across the door opening when the door is closed. Preferably, the door hinges are separated when the door is closed so that all forces are transmitted through the keys and receptacles without interference from the hinges. The inventive technology can also be used with other vehicle door panels such as sliding side van doors, hoods, trunks, liftgates and tailgates to form a stronger, stiffer vehicle chassis that is less susceptible to deformation during impact.

Abstract: A vehicle side impact air bag system is disclosed wherein the air bag is located in an outboard armrest. During a collision, the air bag deploys outward away from the occupant and against the vehicle door or side body panel. Preferably, the air bag fills the entire space between the occupant and the door in order to protect the torso, neck and head of the occupant during the collision. The inventive system may be used with a movable door or an adjacent portion of the vehicle body. Various embodiments are disclosed, including pivotably attaching the armrest to the seat, removably attaching the armrest to the seat, attaching the armrest to the floor, forming the armrest in the floor, and attaching the armrest to the door or vehicle body.

Abstract: A vehicle door and window drive assembly is disclosed for simultaneously or independently driving a vertically moving door and its associated window between respective open and closed positions. A single prime mover, such as a reversible electric motor, a door moving mechanism, and a window moving mechanism are selectively coupled and uncoupled with each other in various combinations by three electromagnetically operated clutches to provide for synchronized manual or powered movement of the door with the window or independent door and window operation.

Abstract: A pivotable armrest is disclosed for presenting a seat belt buckle to a vehicle's occupant when the armrest is extended from a retracted position to a working position. The armrest preferably retracts into an upright position along side of the seat back, but alternatively can be made to downwardly retract adjacent to the seat bottom. The armrest movement may be manually or automatically driven. The armrest is preferably attached to the outboard side of a seat, and is used in conjunction with a conventional shoulder and lap belt arrangement. Preferably, the conventional restraint system is integrally mounted within the seat.

Abstract: A vehicle side impact air bag system is disclosed wherein the air bag is located in an outboard armrest pivotably attached to a vehicle seat. During a collision, a cover panel located over an aperture in the outboard side of the armrest releases, and the air bag deploys outwardly through the aperture away from the occupant and against the vehicle door. Preferably, the air bag fills the entire space between the occupant and the door in order to protect the torso, neck and head of the occupant during the collision. The inventive system may be used with a vertically movable door or with a conventional door.

Abstract: Various advances are disclosed pertaining to vertically sliding automobile doors of the type which retract under the vehicle floor to open, and rotate upward to close, and in the elevated closed position become an integral part of the vehicle's structural chassis frame.

Abstract: A pivotable armrest is disclosed for presenting a seat belt buckle to a vehicle's occupant when the armrest is lowered from an upright retracted position to a lowered working position. The armrest movement may be manually or automatically driven. The armrest is preferably attached to the outboard side of a seat, and is used in conjunction with a conventional shoulder and lap belt arrangement.

Abstract: A pivotable armrest is disclosed for presenting a seat belt buckle to a vehicle's occupant when the armrest is lowered from an upright retracted position to a lowered working position. The armrest movement may be manually or automatically driven. The armrest is preferably attached to the outboard side of a seat, and is used in conjunction with a conventional shoulder and lap belt arrangement.

Abstract: Various advances are disclosed pertaining to vertically sliding automobile doors of the type which retract under the vehicle floor to open, and rotate upward to close, and in the elevated closed position become an integral part of the vehicle's structural chassis frame.

Abstract: A chassis frame is provided with a reinforced floor section and barrier sections fixed to the floor section in longitudinally spaced relationship to one another. Door openings are formed between the barrier sections to either side of the frame. The floor section is of a reduced width and the barrier sections include outwardly convex curvilinear side portions extending laterally relative to the floor section. Door panels are carried by the side portions for slidable movement relative thereto in a curvilinear path defined by the shape of the side portions between extended positions bridging the door openings and retracted positions stowed beneath the floor section. The door panels are tension, compression and torsion resistant and, when in the extended positions, mutually engage the floor section and the sides of the door openings to impart rigidity to the frame.

Abstract: A closure assembly for aerodynamically designed automotive vehicles having body sections with door or displaceable panel apertures formed in generally curved exterior walls and multipart aperture closures such as combinations of solid door panels and windows as well as roof panels which are slidably mounted on the vehicle body section and selectively and rotatably movable within the curved exterior vehicle body wall about the circumference of arcs formed by sections through the exterior wall of the vehicle body between closed and at least partially open positions. Each of the closure parts have a dimension in the direction of rotational movement less than the full dimension of the body aperture so as to be cooperatively capable of filling the body aperture when fully and rotatably extended to a closed position and a unitary reinforcing member on the closure and extending across the aperture to reinforce the body section.