Abstract: A vehicle trim panel for use in a vehicle having an interior portion includes a first substrate panel. A first cover is coupled to the first substrate panel. A second substrate panel is coupled to the first substrate panel. A second cover is coupled to the second substrate panel, wherein the first and second substrate panels are aligned in the vehicle with the first and second covers exposed to the interior portion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vanity is disclosed having a mirror and a light source adjacent the mirror to illuminate an object to be viewed in the mirror. A cover panel is coupled adjacent to the light source for movement to an open position to reveal the mirror and a closed position to conceal the mirror. The vanity includes a switch device to activate and deactivate the light source and a positioning device to maintain the cover panel in the open or closed position. The switch device and the positioning device cooperate to activate the light source when the cover panel is in the open position and to deactivate the light source when the cover panel is not in the open position. The cover panel is configured for rotational movement between the open and closed position in a plane generally parallel to a plane of the mirror.

Abstract: A storage and holding system includes at least one structure forming a cavity having an opening, a first flap and a second component. The first flap is adapted to move between at least a first covering position in which the first flap covers a first portion of the opening and a second open position in which the first flap extends into the cavity to provide access to the cavity. The second component is adapted to be moved between at least a first closed position in which the second component covers a second portion of the opening and a second open self-supported position in which the component is adapted to preform a holding function.

Abstract: A compass display or a low cost construction includes a display coupled to compass sensing and calibration devices to illuminate a portion of the display to indicate a specific heading. The display is mounted beneath a finish covering surface and includes indicia representing compass directional headings attached or printed thereon and the finish covering is supported by a substrate having a plurality of openings spaced relative to a center point and a plurality of light sources such as LED lights located in the holes of the substrate to be located behind the finish covering and aligned with the directional headings. When a light is illuminated, it is visible behind the finish covering to a driver or other occupant of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, twelve openings and associated light sources are provided in the substrate and spaced at 30-degree increments to provide a more precise indication of the vehicle heading.

Abstract: A window control system including at least one operator actuator and a housing, the operator actuator mounted and movable in the housing, and where the relative position of the operator actuator in the housing generates a position command signal to a window control circuit for moving the window in response to the position command.

Abstract: A seat module electrification system includes electrical contacts on the seat and electrical contacts on the module. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment the electrical terminals on the seat comprise conductive strips located proximate a pocket adapted to receive the module and the electrical terminals on the module comprise formed terminals having a conductive tip, the module terminals being arranged to engage the strips when the module is placed in the pocket. The module may be attached to the pocket in a variety of ways including a mechanical latch system or other fasteners. In one illustrated form of the invention, a switch is provided so that power does not pass to the strips unless the module is attached to the seat.

Abstract: A module for use in a vehicle includes a first compartment for containing a battery and a second compartment contiguous to the first compartment for containing a liquid. The second compartment is configured to route the liquid between the second compartment and a vehicle subsystem.

Abstract: An electrification system for removable vehicle seats, includes electrical contacts located on the vehicle and electrical contacts located on the removable seat. Coupling members are provided for selectively installing the seat to the vehicle and for removing the seat to provide additional cargo space. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical contacts are arranged so that when the seat is installed, the contacts engage one another to provide power to the rear seat which in turn can be used with a variety of electrical devices, including seat heaters, seat ventilation devices, computers, entertainment or educational systems, illumination devices, and the like. In this embodiment, the electrical contacts on the vehicle are provided in the wells into which the seat coupling components fit and the contacts on the seat are located near the seat coupling members. The seat is hooked over rods within the well and rotated to its installed position. In such position, the seat is powered.

Abstract: A seat module electrification system includes electrical contacts on the seat and electrical contacts on the module. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment the electrical terminals on the seat comprise conductive strips located proximate a pocket adapted to receive the module and the electrical terminals on the module comprise formed terminals having a conductive tip, the module terminals being arranged to engage the strips when the module is placed in the pocket. The module may be attached to the pocket in a variety of ways including a mechanical latch system or other fasteners. In one illustrated form of the invention, a switch is provided so that power does not pass to the strips unless the module is attached to the seat.

Abstract: A combined hook and clip includes a mounting housing which can be integrated into a vehicle panel or separately provided and which includes a recess for receiving a pivoted combined hook and clip. The hook and clip includes a mounting collar, which is pivotally mounted within the housing by a pivot pin, a downwardly and inwardly projecting leg extending from the mounting collar to a base. Extending integrally upwardly and outwardly from the base is a second leg which, together with the first leg and base, defines a generally U-shaped hook. Extending downwardly from the second leg and projecting below the base is a third leg with a gripper member facing the housing for defining a clip. A bias member retains the combined hook and clip within the recess of the housing and urges the clip into a gripping position.

Abstract: An electrification system for removable vehicle seats, includes electrical contacts located on the vehicle and electrical contacts located on the removable seat. Coupling members are provided for selectively installing the seat to the vehicle and for removing the seat to provide additional cargo space. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical contacts are arranged so that when the seat is installed, the contacts engage one another to provide power to the rear seat which in turn can be used with a variety of electrical devices, including seat heaters, seat ventilation devices, computers, entertainment or educational systems, illumination devices, and the like. In this embodiment, the electrical contacts on the vehicle are provided in the wells into which the seat coupling components fit and the contacts on the seat are located near the seat coupling members. The seat is hooked over rods within the well and rotated to its installed position. In such position, the seat is powered.

Abstract: A shift knob integrally includes one of a plug or socket having fixed contacts which are coupled to a control switch mounted to the shift knob. The plug or socket is mounted to a sleeve which integrally includes the other of a socket and plug with fixed contacts precoupled to the transmission wire harness such that during assembly it is only necessary for the shift knob to be mounted onto the knob-receiving sleeve to make both mechanical and electrical contact with the transmission. In a preferred embodiment, the shift knob includes a keyed plug with the contacts recessed within a housing of the plug.

Abstract: A thermal storage system providing a receptacle in a motor vehicle which can be used to keep refrigerated items cool or heated items hot during transportation of those items. The receptacle is removably mounted from the vehicle to facilitate carrying of the items to and from the vehicle. Additionally, the receptacle can be folded to reduce its size for storage within a cavity in the motor vehicle after passing the receptacle through an opening in a vehicle interior component. The receptacle has insulated walls which operate to keep the stored items either heated or cooled in passive operation. Active heating or cooling can be provided with a thermoelectric element.

Abstract: A connector for ribbon-to-wire conductors includes a clip for holding a ribbon conductor and a housing for retaining a series of wire conductors. To connect the system, a ribbon conductor containing exposed conductors on one surface of its free end is extended over the free end of an upper segment of the clip which is then inserted into the opening of the housing until a shoulder on the base of the clip engages the back wall of the housing locking the clip containing the ribbon conductor to the housing. In another embodiment of the electrical connecting system, a housing and a retainer snap together to sandwich exposed electrical contacts of two ribbon conductors and/or electrical surface contacts of a flexible or rigid circuit board. To connect the system, the ribbon conductors are placed over opposite ends of the circuit board to engage contacts thereon and the retainer is snapped to the housing.

Abstract: A housing supports a parking brake lever assembly, including a manual lever, a brake cable tension adjustment control, and a cable coupling assembly for coupling the lever to the vehicle's parking brake cables mounted to the chassis of a vehicle during assembly. The cable coupling assembly, tension adjustment control and parking brake lever assembly are inter-coupled and mounted to the housing forming a floor console which can be snap-fitted into a vehicle quickly during assembly with the parking brake lever automatically coupled to the vehicle's parking brake cables and the tension quickly adjusted external to the console for proper tension and operation during assembly.

Abstract: A panel mounting assembly includes an elongated holder defining a track with a floor having inwardly projecting opposed facing flanges spaced above said floor for captively receiving legs of an inverted generally V-shaped clip. The track flanges include a plurality of opposed aligned slots for receiving flanges at the ends of the clip legs, thereby locking the clip in place along the track. The holder comprises a thermoplastic polymeric material having a plurality of projections which are melted to fuse the holder to the surface of the panel facing the underlying support structure. In another embodiment of the invention, a resilient polymeric mounting clip for a vehicle panel is made of a thermoplastic material having support panel engaging means extending therefrom in a first direction and a plurality of projections extending therefrom in an opposite direction for fusibly bonding the projections to a decorative panel.

Abstract: A combined speaker and locking member extend through an aperture in a vehicle headliner to mount the speaker to the headliner. The locking member includes offset locking flanges which engage the upper surface of the headliner when installed, and the speaker includes locking tabs extending through the slots in the headliner for engaging the lower surface of the headliner. The speaker further includes a pair of locking slots which receive the offset locking flanges of the locking member such that the locking member and speaker move together during installation. The speaker is locked into position by a raised locking surface formed on the side of the locking flanges facing the headliner to extend into the opposed slots of the headliner when the speaker is rotated with its tabs positioned on the opposite side of the headliner.

Abstract: A vehicle accessory has a mounting wall with an elongated slot which slideably receives a snap-in fastener which is fixed in the orthogonal direction of installation of the snap-in fastener. The fastener cooperates with an elongated slot formed in a vehicle support structure which slot extends orthogonally to the slot in the vehicle accessory such that the fastener can be moved into alignment on two axes to align with the aperture in the vehicle for insertion of the fastener and installation of the accessory.

Abstract: An assist strap including an elongated handle-shaped body having opposite ends with inwardly projecting locking flanges formed on a tapered locking member. The locking flange is spaced from an opposed support surface a distance to compressibly engage the vehicle's sheet metal roof and surrounding headliner material. The tapered locking member includes a spring mounted on a side of the locking member opposite the locking flange for urging the flange into continued contact with the supporting sheet metal thereby holding the assist strap in secure engagement within an aperture formed in the vehicle sheet metal structure.

Abstract: An assist handle includes a generally elongated C-shaped handle having opposed ends which include upwardly extending projections defining hooks for receiving hangers at each of the opposite ends. A pair of mounting brackets are provided for mounting in spaced relationship to the vehicle and for pivotally receiving the opposite ends of the handle for pivotally mounting the handle to a vehicle. In one embodiment, the mounting brackets are integrally formed in a concave handle receiving bezel.