Abstract: A four-bar linkage based lift is operable by a single person. The lift is used to raise a drywall panel to a ceiling, allowing the drywall panel to be mounted to the ceiling rafters. The lift includes a base link structure, an upright link structure, a working link structure, and a supporting link structure. The upright link structure is adjacently connected to the base link structure, while a first axle creates a hinged connection between the working link structure and the upright link structure. The working link structure can thus be rotated upwards in order to lift a drywall panel, the drywall panel being supported by a drywall retaining shelf of the working link structure. The supporting link structure, formed of an independent first stay and second stay, can be rotated to an upright position to support the raised working link structure.

Abstract: A portable, collapsible child booster seat for a vehicle comprises a collapsible seat member that removably rests on a vehicle seat with collapsible arm rests extending upwardly from opposite sides of the seat member. The seat member includes an upper seating surface supported on a collapsible scissors frame seat base. The seat base is raisable to a deployed position and collapsible to a storage position. The arm rests comprise horizontal arms pivotably mounted on raisable legs. The arm rests have a deployed position, wherein the legs extend upwardly from the seat base and the arms extend forwardly, and a collapsed position, wherein the legs and arms are in a generally horizontal position adjacent the sides of the seat base. The arm rests and seat base are operably interconnected, such that raising or lowering the arm rests between their deployed and collapsed positions causes deployment and collapse of the seat base.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seatback. The seatback includes a seatback frame and is selectively rotatable relative to the seat bottom from an upright position to a forward position. A seatbelt assembly includes a retractor coupled to the seatback frame and a belt selectively extendable from and retractable to the retractor. A first end of the belt is disposed in the retractor. A guide is coupled to the seatback frame and defines an orifice with the belt slideably extending through the orifice. The retractor and the guide are fixed relative to the seatback frame and the second end of the belt is fixed to the seatback frame. The retractor, the guide, and both ends of the belt rotate from the upright position to the forward position in response to a force exerted on the seatback frame during rapid deceleration of the seat assembly.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seatback. The seatback includes a seatback frame and is selectively rotatable relative to the seat bottom from an upright position to a forward position. A seatbelt assembly includes a retractor coupled to the seatback frame and a belt selectively extendable from and retractable to the retractor. A first end of the belt is disposed in the retractor. A guide is coupled to the seatback frame and defines an orifice with the belt slideably extending through the orifice. The retractor and the guide are fixed relative to the seatback frame and the second end of the belt is fixed to the seatback frame. The retractor, the guide, and both ends of the belt rotate from the upright position to the forward position in response to a force exerted on the seatback frame during rapid deceleration of the seat assembly.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seatback. The seatback includes a seatback frame and is selectively rotatable relative to the seat bottom from an upright position to a forward position. A seatbelt assembly includes a retractor coupled to the seatback frame and a belt selectively extendable from and retractable to the retractor. A first end of the belt is disposed in the retractor. A guide is coupled to the seatback frame and defines an orifice with the belt slideably extending through the orifice. The retractor and the guide are fixed relative to the seatback frame and the second end of the belt is fixed to the seatback frame. The retractor, the guide, and both ends of the belt rotate from the upright position to the forward position in response to a force exerted on the seatback frame during rapid deceleration of the seat assembly.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seatback. The seatback includes a seatback frame and is selectively rotatable relative to the seat bottom from an upright position to a forward position. A seatbelt assembly includes a retractor coupled to the seatback frame and a belt selectively extendable from and retractable to the retractor. A first end of the belt is disposed in the retractor. A guide is coupled to the seatback frame and defines an orifice with the belt slideably extending through the orifice. The retractor and the guide are fixed relative to the seatback frame and the second end of the belt is fixed to the seatback frame. The retractor, the guide, and both ends of the belt rotate from the upright position to the forward position in response to a force exerted on the seatback frame during rapid deceleration of the seat assembly.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seatback. The seatback includes a seatback frame and is selectively rotatable relative to the seat bottom from an upright position to a forward position. A seatbelt assembly includes a retractor coupled to the seatback frame and a belt selectively extendable from and retractable to the retractor. A first end of the belt is disposed in the retractor. A guide is coupled to the seatback frame and defines an orifice with the belt slideably extending through the orifice. The retractor and the guide are fixed relative to the seatback frame and the second end of the belt is fixed to the seatback frame. The retractor, the guide, and both ends of the belt rotate from the upright position to the forward position in response to a force exerted on the seatback frame during rapid deceleration of the seat assembly.

Abstract: A portable, collapsible child booster seat for a vehicle comprises a collapsible seat member that removably rests on a vehicle seat with collapsible arm rests extending upwardly from opposite sides of the seat member. The seat member includes an upper seating surface supported on a collapsible scissors frame seat base. The seat base is raisable to a deployed position and collapsible to a storage position. The arm rests comprise horizontal arms pivotably mounted on raisable legs. The arm rests have a deployed position, wherein the legs extend upwardly from the seat base and the arms extend forwardly, and a collapsed position, wherein the legs and arms are in a generally horizontal position adjacent the sides of the seat base. The arm rests and seat base are operably interconnected, such that raising or lowering the arm rests between their deployed and collapsed positions causes deployment and collapse of the seat base.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a support structure and a seat bottom mounted to the support structure. A seatback is coupled to the support structure and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis between a first collision position when applying a first force to the seatback and a second collision position when applying a second force to the seatback. A first energy absorbing member is mounted to the seat bottom for absorbing energy when the seatback rotates to the first collision position. A second energy absorbing member includes a first end coupled to the first energy absorbing member and a second end coupled to the seatback for absorbing energy when the seatback rotates to the second collision position after the first energy absorbing member absorbs energy in the first collision position.

Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle includes a seat bottom and a seatback. The seatback includes a seatback frame and is selectively rotatable relative to the seat bottom from an upright position to a forward position. A seatbelt assembly includes a retractor coupled to the seatback frame and a belt selectively extendable from and retractable to the retractor. A first end of the belt is disposed in the retractor. A guide is coupled to the seatback frame and defines an orifice with the belt slideably extending through the orifice. The retractor and the guide are fixed relative to the seatback frame and the second end of the belt is fixed to the seatback frame. The retractor, the guide, and both ends of the belt rotate from the upright position to the forward position in response to a force exerted on the seatback frame during rapid deceleration of the seat assembly.

Abstract: A sliding energy absorbing vehicle seat bracket provides slide-forward seat travel at a controlled resistance force, which results in absorbing energy and limiting forces on a rear impacting occupant. The bracket can be a simple L-Section steel member with threaded stud attachment to the floor and shoulder rivet or shoulder bolt attachment to the seat or seat riser or pedestal. The shoulder rivet attachment fits in a slot in the bracket that permits resistive sliding of the seat relative to the vehicle floor. The slot can be shaped such that there is no sliding travel until a threshold force is reached and then the seat continues to slide with a continued resistance force. An interference fit of the slot to rivet can be provided by a tapered or serrated slot or a plastic insert molded in the slot. Other bracket designs include a U-shaped bracket or a horizontal slide instead of a vertical slot. The bracket has application for any vehicle seat where there are two or more rows of seats.

Abstract: A quick adjustment mechanism for a seat back recliner operated by a lead screw, which is appropriate for use in a restraint safety seat, wherein the recliner comprises pivotally connected upper and lower body members connected respectively to back frame and seat frame portions of the seat. Seat inclination is controlled by a screw drive mechanism having axially spaced fixed and traveling pinions attached to the lower and upper body members. The recliner includes a quick adjustment mechanism wherein the fixed pinion is mounted in a multiple position quick adjustment slot in the body member. The slot desirably has a downwardly facing U-shaped configuration. A mounting pin on the fixed pinion fits in the U-shaped slot. Quick adjustment of inclination is achieved by moving the pin from one slot to the other without disengaging the screw drive.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device is formed of natural or synthetic resin material or composite material, wherein energy absorption is provided by a plurality of cup-shaped cells having a thin-walled construction with a circular cross section. The absorber is useful for automotive bumper impact and also for other applications, including automotive padding and general cushion applications.

Abstract: A bumper beam comprises a first and second channel members, a plate, and a mount. Each of the first and the second channel members being an elongated member that has a length between two opposing ends and a generally U-shaped cross section with a web that has two opposing edges and a pair of flanges that project in the same general direction from the two opposing edges of the web to terminal ends. The two web edges and the flanges extending along the length. The plate extends between and connecting the first and the second channel members. The mount is connected with one of the first and the second channel members whereby the bumper beam is connected with a frame member of a vehicle.

Abstract: A bumper having improved energy absorbing characteristics comprises an elongated rigid beam having an energy absorber mounted thereto. The energy absorber is integrally formed of a moldable resin and includes a base having a plurality of inverted cup shaped cells formed on at least one side thereof. The cells have a circular cross section and employ thin wall construction with a desirable aspect ratio of height to width to wall thickness, with the height of the cells being substantially greater than the width of the cells. An energy absorber is positioned inside a hollow box beam to provide improved energy absorption and crush resistance at higher vehicle speeds.

Abstract: A quick adjustment mechanism for a seat back recliner operated by a lead screw, which is appropriate for use in a restraint safety seat, wherein the recliner comprises pivotally connected upper and lower body members connected respectively to back frame and seat frame portions of the seat. Seat inclination is controlled by a screw drive mechanism having axially spaced fixed and traveling pinions attached to the lower and upper body members. The recliner includes a quick adjustment mechanism wherein the fixed pinion is mounted in a multiple position quick adjustment slot in the body member. The slot desirably has a downwardly facing U-shaped configuration. A mounting pin on the fixed pinion fits in the U-shaped slot. Quick adjustment of inclination is achieved by moving the pin from one slot to the other without disengaging the screw drive.

Abstract: The bumper system includes an elongated body member with a cavity extending along at least a portion of a length of the body member, a beam member positioned in the cavity in close fitting engagement, and an attachment device for attaching the bumper system to a preselected structure. The body member cavity has a predetermined cavity cross-sectional shape and the beam member has a corresponding cross-sectional shape. The body member is constructed in one piece of a resilient, moldable material. The corresponding cross-sectional shapes of the body member cavity and the beam member are adapted to maximize torsional force transfer between the body member and the beam member. The beam member is configured to meet strength requirement with minimal mass. In one embodiment, at least one absorber member is interposed between the body member and the preselected supporting structure.

Abstract: A restraint seat back recliner construction with a high strength double-wall recliner body that packages a lead screw mechanism inside the body to create a shoulder belt load carrying, single-sided, recliner system. A unique slot in the lower body is employed that guides the movement of a traveling nut pinion at the end of a lead screw and connects the upper and lower body, thereby providing reclining action and acting as a secondary safety stop mechanism. A unique end detail of a guide slot and a lead screw end pinion design permits controlled occupant deceleration during a frontal vehicle crash. Application of two-door, four-door, power, manual, single and double sided recliners are shown.

Abstract: A blow molded vehicle seat frame system with integral restraint safety belt comprises a blow molded full bench, split bench or high back seat frame with discrete, strategically-placed, insert tubular beams to provide seat and seat belt mounting and load carrying capacity. A molded back contains tubular side cavities housing non-circular reinforcing beams therein. A telescoping tube at the top of the beam provides a shoulder belt height adjustment mechanism. The reinforcement beams provide an efficiently designed load path wherein the belt forces resulting from a crash situation are directed through super-high strength roll form metal tubular beams directly to the vehicle seat track or pedestal mounts. The primary load carrying seat component members are designed structurally to create discrete displacement occupant energy absorption to provide safe occupant crash kinematics and deceleration forces.

Abstract: A vehicle seat back comprises a blow molded body with a reinforcing beam extending upwardly along at least one side of the body. The lower extremity of this beam is secured to the base structure of the seat. The upper extremity of the beam can from a mounting point for a shoulder harness belt terminal. Crash forces on the seat back and seat belt shoulder harness are thus transmitted through the reinforcing structure to the vehicle frame without involving the relatively weak molded or fabricated conventional frame components of the seat frame to create a low mass, structural restraint seat system.