Abstract: A system and computer-implemented method of identifying multiple mortgage ready properties. The method includes receiving, via one or more processors, information from a customer approved for a mortgage about preferences for a real estate property and accessing, at a memory coupled to one or more processors, a memory storage location to retrieve a plurality of mortgage ready real estate properties meeting one or more of the customer preferences information. The method further includes transmitting, via the one or more processors, the plurality of real estate properties meeting one or more of the customer preferences information to the customer.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying an air bag through an automotive dash panel (12) includes an air bag door (16) integrally formed in the panel and defined by a door perimeter including a frangible edge (18) of reduced cross section. A dispenser (20) supports the air bag (24) behind the door. A metal reaction plate (28) is positioned between the air bag (24) and the door (16). When the air bag inflates, it forces the reaction plate (28) to bend around a horizontal hinge line (36). As the reaction, plate pivots it concentrates inflation force along a lower portion of the frangible door edge. This helps to predictably separate the door from the dash panel by tearing along the lower door edge and allowing the tear to propagate up two side edges. In one embodiment, the tear also propagates across an upper edge to completely separate the door from the panel. At least one, and preferably two or three tethers (50) limit how far the door can travel during air bag inflation.

Abstract: A bowling ball retention device is disclosed which includes a plurality of spaced apart openings having a diameter based on the thickness of the device to retain the ball from rolling. Made from sheet material, numerous shapes are possible to allow integration around a ball return or placement upon other flat surfaces.

Abstract: A pneumatic support system and controller combination including pressurizable expandable chambers (1); a source of pressure and an exhaust characterized by: a unitary manifold assembly (14) including a circuit board (25); a manifold (27) and one or more microvalves (24) having a silicon based valve actuator responsive to a signal for controlling flow from said manifold with respect to one or more expandable chambers.

Abstract: A blow molded fan shroud (10) for use with an automotive cooling system is disclosed. The fan shroud (10) integrates a motor mounting ring or plate (20) for supporting a motor for driving the fan. The motor mounting ring or plate (20) is spaced from a front surface of the fan shroud (10) by a plurality of spiders (18). The spiders (18) are formed so as to include at least one portion with a hollow cross-section or chamber (22).

Abstract: A blow molded article comprising an inwardly projecting rib and a mold loose piece, the inwardly projecting rib comprising a wall portion formed around an inwardly projecting mold loose piece. In method form, the present invention relates to a blow molded article having at least one inwardly projecting rib, the method comprising the steps of providing a mold having a cavity defined therein by a cavity wall, providing a mold loose piece disposed on the cavity wall, introducing a parison into the cavity, and introducing the mold loose piece into the parison.

Abstract: An air cell support system for vehicle seat and mattress applications includes an air cell constructed from facing sheets of flexible material that are sealed along their marginal edges. One of the sheets is impermeable and the other of the sheets is perforated to direct air from the air cell for ventilating an occupant support surface while providing a source of pressure for inflating the air cell.

Abstract: A vehicular seat (10) including a seat bottom (12) and a seat back (14). In one embodiment, the seat bottom (12) and seat back (14) are formed from a blow molded frame (16) including side walls (18) extending generally upwardly from a bottom panel (20). A support mat (32) comprising fabric/rubber webbing extends across a central cut-out region (28) in the bottom panel (20) and supports an inflatable cushion (48) comprising a series of air cells (50). An extensible upholstery or trim cover layer (56) covers the inflatable cushion (48) and is joined to the frame (16). In a second embodiment, the seat bottom (12) and seat back (14) are formed from a blow molded shell (62). An intermediate layer (64) of plastics material is provided on the shell (62) beneath an upholstery layer (68). An opening in the shell (62) allows the intermediate layer (64) to be expanded outwardly from the shell (62) as the pressure within the shell (62) is increased.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying an air bag through an automotive dash panel includes an air bag door integrally formed in the panel and defined by a door perimeter including a frangible edge of reduced cross section. A dispenser supports the air bag behind the door. A metal reaction plate is positioned between the air bag and the door. When the air bag inflates, it forces the reaction plate to bend around a horizontal hinge line. As the reaction plate pivots it concentrates inflation force along a lower portion of the frangible door edge. This helps to predictably separate the door from the dash panel by tearing along the lower door edge and allowing the tear to propagate up two side edges. In one embodiment, the tear also propagates across an upper edge to completely separate the door from the panel. At least one, and preferably two or three tethers limit how far the door can travel during air bag inflation. A stop member may be included to limit reaction plate bending.

Abstract: A system of inflatable air cells (3,10) is constructed and installed in a seat (2) at locations that are strategic to the comfort of the user. The air cells are selectively pressurized to a desired comfort level and in addition, in response to a vehicle impact, are controlled by valves (62, 80) to have a occupant impact protection pressure therein for protecting the occupant against impact with the vehicle seat.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying an air bag through an automotive dash panel includes an air bag door integrally formed in the panel and defined by a frangible edge of reduced cross section. A dispenser supports the air bag behind the door. A metal reaction plate is positioned between the air bag and the door. When the air bag inflates it forces the reaction plate to bend around a horizontal hinge line. As the reaction plate rotates it concentrates inflation force along a lower portion of the frangible door edge. This helps predictably separate the door from the dash panel by tearing along the lower door edge and allowing the tear to propagate up two side edges. In one embodiment, the tear also propagates across an upper edge to completely separate the door from the panel. At least one, and preferably two or three tethers limit how far the door can travel during air bag inflation. A stop member may be included to limit reaction plate bending.

Abstract: A low energy consumption valve module (16) includes low energy consumption valves (20) having either bimorphs or monomorphs defined by a circular diaphragm (21) carrying one or more piezoelectric discs (22) (23) operative to position a sealing disc (36) for sealing a valve seat (34). In one embodiment the discs are energized across conductive seals (51,52,54,56) and in another embodiment the discs are energized by a pair of flexible conductors (150). A process for making the bimorphs or monomorphs comprises a tape cast process in which ceramic with piezoelectric properties is shaped without machining. A process for making the valve module providing a valve body (200) and valve cover (202) of either laser energy transparent or laser energy absorbent polyimide material that are joined at a line to line contact (210) and sealed upon application of a laser welding beam to the line to line contact between the valve body and the valve cover at the perimeter thereof.

Abstract: A vehicular seat (10) including a seat bottom (12) and a seat back (14). In one embodiment, the seat bottom (12) and seat back (14) are formed from a blow molded frame (16) including side walls (18) extending generally upwardly from a bottom panel (20). A support mat (32) comprising fabric/rubber webbing extends across a central cut-out region (28) in the bottom panel (20) and supports an inflatable cushion (48) comprising a series of air cells (50). An extensible upholstery or trim cover layer (56) covers the inflatable cushion (48) and is joined to the frame (16). In a second embodiment, the seat bottom (12) and seat back (14) are formed from a blow molded shell (62). An intermediate layer (64) of plastics material is provided on the shell (62) beneath an upholstery layer (68). An opening in the shell (62) allows the intermediate layer (64) to be expanded outwardly from the shell (62) as the pressure within the shell (62) is increased.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying an air bag through an automotive dash panel includes an air bag door integrally formed in the panel and defined by a frangible edge of reduced cross section. A dispenser supports the air bag behind the door. A metal reaction plate is positioned between the air bag and the door. When the air bag inflates it forces the reaction plate to bend around a horizontal hinge line. As the reaction plate rotates it concentrates inflation force along a lower portion of the frangible door edge. This helps predictably separate the door from the dash panel by tearing along the lower door edge and allowing the tear to propagate up two side edges. In one embodiment, the tear also propagates across an upper edge to completely separate the door from the panel. At least one, and preferably two or three tethers limit how far the door can travel during air bag inflation. A stop member may be included to limit reaction plate bending.

Abstract: A skin for an automotive interior panel has a main body portion for covering most of the panel and an air bag cover portion for covering the panel portion that the air bag deploys through. Casting a first plastic material against a first portion of a heated mold surface forms the main body skin portion. Casting or spraying a plastic material against a second portion of the heated mold surface forms the air bag cover skin portion. The mold surface portions may be confined from one another by a partition or by masking one portion while casting against the other. The main body and air bag cover skin portions include adjacent edges that extend along the air bag cover portion periphery. The two skin portions are joined together along their adjacent edges while still on the heated mold. An air bag deployment tear seam is formed by first casting a tear seam gap in the cover portion then spraying or casting a relatively weaker material into the gap.

Abstract: An air cell system for vehicle seat and mattress applications includes an air cell constructed from facing sheets of flexible air-impermeable material that are sealed along their marginal edges. A gap is provided at a prescribed location along the seam to accommodate and air tube. The portion of the air tube received in the gap has a generally diamond shaped cross section including a central tubular region and opposed lateral side sections that taper radially outwardly in order to occupy correspondingly shaped regions of the gap. The shaped end of the air tube is sealed to the facing cell layer material to provide an airtight, unstressed seal therebetween.

Abstract: A recyclable automotive headliner consists 100% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material and includes reverse ribs of varying density of PET fibers filled with reinforcements of full density PET material. A method of manufacturing such headliners includes forming the reverse ribs in the PET fibers and either preforming the full density reinforcements and bonding them between the ribs or forming the ribs and then injecting molten full density PET material therebetween.

Abstract: An air bag cover door assembly utilizes a releasable fastener along each side of the air bag cover door to provide a predetermined opening characteristic for the cover door. The fasteners can be hook and loop tape, mechanical interlocks, adhesive strips, etc., with one half of each fastener secured to the inside surface of the cover door and the other half secured to a substructure, such as a dashboard pad retainer, in mating engagement with the first half. The fasteners are located along the sides of the cover door proximate the hinging axis of the cover door so that expansion of the air bag causes the cover door to initially hinge along a line extending between the engaged fasteners and then causes the fasteners to separate, allowing the cover door to swing open fully about its hinging axis.

Abstract: A hollow core instrument panel provides the look and feel of a urethane filled instrument panel without the associated disadvantages. A rigid retainer substrate provides a skeletal superstructure. A hollow shell applique is attached to the retainer substrate for providing a decorative exterior. The hollow shell applique includes a resilient upper wall, a lower wall, contoured to matingly engage the retainer substrate, a forward end wall and a rearward end wall. One or more ribs may be provided intermediate the forward and rearward end walls. The forward and rearward end walls are hook-shaped for mechanically clamping about the edges of the retainer substrate. Vent holes prevent pressure build-up within the hollow shell applique.

Abstract: A skin or shell is disclosed for use in a mold process in which the skin or shell is placed in a mold in which foam precursors are directed onto the skin for reaction thereagainst to form a foam layer thereon; the skin includes integral connector features thereon adapted to be connected to the mold for stabilizing the location of the skin within the mold so as to prevent wrinkling of the skin during the mold process.