Abstract: A strong metal plate having flexibility includes a flat portion, a plurality of first protuberances projecting from the flat portion in one direction of the thickness direction of the flat portion and a plurality of second protuberances projecting from the flat portion in the other direction of the thickness.

Abstract: A lid lock apparatus is comprised of a lid pivotally mounted to a vehicle-body for opening/closing an opening formed therein and movable between an opening position and a closing position, a locking mechanism which is in engagement with the lid in order to hold the lid at its closing position, a first driving mechanism associated with the locking mechanism for releasing the lid from the locking mechanism, a second driving mechanism associated with the locking mechanism for releasing the lid from the locking mechanism, and a device for assuring operations of the first driving mechanism and the second driving mechanism which are independent of the second driving mechanism and the first driving mechanism, respectively.

Abstract: A lid lock apparatus is comprised of an opening formed in a vehicle-body, a lid pivotally mounted to the vehicle-body, a locking mechanism is connected to the plate and has a shaft which engages and disengages the lid when operated to its closed and opened condition, respectively. A driving mechanism which is arranged for releasing the engagement between the shaft and the lid when in the closed condition, is mounted on the locking mechanism and positioned in such a manner that the driving mechanism is set to be in close relationship to the plate while being perpendicular to the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A windshield wiper assembly provides variable contact pressure between the wiper blade and the windshield by utilization of a lever arm variably movable within a cam slot as the windshield wiper reciprocates across the windshield. A spring provides a bias force between the wiper arm and the lever arm of the assembly. The spring force acts through a moment arm to urge the wiper blade into contact with the windshield. The magnitude of the moment arm through which the spring bias force acts to urge the wiper blade into contact with the windshield is adjusted in accordance with the position of the wiper blade on the windshield as a result of the predetermined configuration of the cam slot which acts on the lever arm to which one end of the spring is attached. In this manner, the contact pressure between the wiper blade and the windshield is reduced at the extreme ends of the windshield wiper throw so as to reduce the noise typically associated with the windshield wiper reversing direction on the windshield.

Abstract: A windshield wiper includes a first pin connected to a drive mechanism, a primary lever supported by the first pin, a second pin mounted to the primary pin, a wiper arm fixedly mounted to the second pin, the primary lever being rotated about the second pin by the drive mechanism to cause reciprocating motion of the wiper arm in an arcuate path, a first cam member rotatable about the first pin, a second cam member rotatable about the second pin, and a secondary lever for connecting the first cam member and the second cam member together. The second cam member is so rotated as to allow a center of the first cam member to move relative to a center of the first pin, thereby changing the effective length of the primary lever such that the arcuate path of the wiper arm is changed. A wheel gear is used to rotate the second cam member through a predetermined angle. The second cam member is rotatably supported by a stationary member. A gear portion is meshed with the wheel gear and rotated by the motor.