Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light allowed to reach a photosensitive surface includes a movable light regulating member, an electrically conductive coil mounted to move with the member, a first permanent magnet having a north pole located adjacent a first side of the coil, and a second permanent magnet having a south pole located adjacent the first side of the coil. The invention is characterized by third and fourth permanent magnets located adjacent a second side of the coil. A north pole of the third magnet is located opposite the south pole of the second magnet and a south pole of the fourth magnet is located opposite the north pole of the first magnet. When electrical current is passed through the coil in one direction, the member is moved in a first direction, and when electrical current is passed through the coil in another direction, the member is moved in a second direction.

Abstract: A core made of a soft magnetic material is supported to be movable, and a permanent magnet is mounted to move with the core. At least one electrically conductive drive coil is located adjacent the core and one pole of the permanent magnet. A casing, made of a soft magnetic material, is located adjacent to the drive. An electrically conductive sense coil is located adjacent one end of the core, such that when electrical current is passed through the drive coil in a first direction, the core is moved in a first direction and an electrical property associated with the sense coil is altered, thereby indicating the position of the core, and when electrical current is passed through the drive coil in a second direction, the core is moved in a second direction and an electrical property associated with the sense coil is altered, thereby indicating the position of the core.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator with position sensor includes a core made of a soft magnetic material, a permanent magnet located adjacent the core for providing a magnetic field in the core and an electrically conductive drive coil wrapped about a first portion of the core. The drive coil is supported such that the drive coil can move along the first portion of the core. An electrically conductive sense coil is wrapped about a second portion of the core and fixed relative to the core such that there is substantially no relative movement between the sense coil and the core. When an electrical current is passed through the drive coil, the drive coil moves along the first portion of the core and an electrical current is induced in the sense coil which indicates the position of the drive coil relative to the first portion of the core.

Abstract: A camera for use with a first group of successive flash lamps and with a second group of successive flash lamps, comprises a flash emission window and means for moving the first lamp group relative to the second lamp group to move the respective lamps of the first lamp group to a use position at the flash emission window and for moving the first and second lamp groups in unison after the respective lamps of the first lamp group have been used in order to move the respective lamps of the second lamp group to a use position at the flash emission window.

Abstract: In a camera, a circular array of flash lamps is arranged radially with respective ignition ends of the lamps closer to one another than respective opposite ends of the lamps. Each one of the lamps has respective ignition stems projecting from the ignition ends of the lamps to be struck to ignite the lamps. A one-piece reflector ring is located behind the circular array of lamps with respective disk portions of the reflector disk extending radially over each one of the lamps between the ignitions ends and opposite ends of the lamps to reflect flash illumination from the lamps non-radially. A one-piece striker ring is located behind the reflector ring and has respective striker fingers extending radially over the lamps for striking the ignition stems of the lamps. The circular array of flash lamps, the reflector disk and the striker ring are supported for simultaneous rotation to position respective trios of the lamps, the disk portions and the striker fingers successively behind a flash emission window.

Abstract: A closure for an air bag assembly includes a flexible outer skin and a layer of foam material covering a retainer member that has an air bag deployment opening that is closed by a moveable door. The door overlaps portions of the retainer member to support the door against movement inwardly of the retainer member and allow free hinging movement outwardly of the retainer member for stressing and separating the layer of foam and the outer skin to form a deployment path for the air bag. The moveable door may be retained in the closed position by frangible portions of the retainer member to facilitate manufacture of the closure.

Abstract: An invisible airbag door arrangement is integrated into a decorative automotive instrument panel to create an opening for airbag deployment. The arrangement comprises two self hinging sheet metal doors that are attached to a substrate frame and a cast polyvinyl chloride thermoplastic (PVC) shell that forms part of the decorative covering of the instrument panel. The back side of the PVC shell is reinforced with a urethane adhesive coating that also the bonds PVC shell to a layer of elastomeric urethane foam that is foamed in place beneath the PVC shell.

Abstract: A dual door arrangement is insert molded in a decorative automotive instrument panel to create an opening for air bag deployment. The arrangement comprises two self hinging sheet metal doors that are attached to a thermoplastic frame by integral clips. One door has an outwardly projecting lip embedded in the instrument panel that initiate a central slit in the instrument panel for propagating the air bag opening. The other door has a depressed shelf that underlies the lip and adjacent margin of the first door to provide several advantages including helping the lip to initiate the central slit.

Abstract: An airbag assembly (10) includes a sheet metal door subassembly (36) with a cross cut (40) and two side cuts (38) that fully covers an airbag escape opening (34) in a primary substrate (32). The inflation of the airbag (16) causes two doors (42) of the subassembly 36, to bend around the primary substrate (32) at upper and lower sides of an airbag escape opening (34). A cutting edge (44) is located at one end (46) of one of the two doors (42) and cuts an opening through the outer uninterrupted cover (25) so the airbag (16) may expand therethrough into the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The subassembly (36) has a continuous periphery (36a) that is connected by a reduced number of rivets (26).

Abstract: A pilot operated electromagnetically actuated valve having a flexible diaphragm main valve operator with a rigid insert forming the pilot valve seat and passage. The pilot valving chamber cover serves as an armature pilot valve guide and also has plural spaced ribs engaging and guiding movement of the rigid insert and pilot valve seat. A separate inlet passage having an annular filter formed by circumferentially spaced grooves and a resilient flange provided on a disc member inserted in the valve inlet flow to a remote pilot bleed hole in the cover for supplying the pilot valving chamber.

Abstract: A trickle jumping device for charging liquid cell and jell cell storage batteries is provided by the present invention. In a presently preferred embodiment, the device comprises a conductor to a directional slip receptacle, a slip plug connected to a smaller amp hour battery using a prescribed terminal connector, and a current limiting device such as a wire wound resistor to provide a close tolerance means of controlling current with very little variance because of heat. Preferably, the trickle jumping device polarity is determined by the use of a diode, so that the polarity of a smaller charge battery is maintained if the jumper is connected incorrectly.

Abstract: A portable cooking grill device is formed from two vertical posts removably attached to the upturned ends of a U-shaped base. The cooking surface of the device is a grill having a rod attached along its rear edge, and a plurality of parallel rods extending perpendicular thereto from front to back of the grill. Two braces attached to the grill extend diagonally downward and rearward from the grill. The vertical posts pass through the grill between adjacent parallel rods. The grill is held in place with respect to the vertical posts and base by the rod attached along the rear edge of the grill which seats against the back of the vertical posts, and by the distal ends of the diagonal braces being seated against the front of the vertical posts. A number of horizontal ribs may be spaced along the length of the vertical posts to provide better support for the braces.

Abstract: A foul weather garment permitting body perspiration to be vented to prevent accumulation of condensation including an outer garment shell, an inner garment liner and means for suspending the linear in the shell forming an air space therebetween so that perspiration vapors can condense within the air space and drain to the outside of the garment.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vehicle indicating mechanism, in the form of a parking guide, for gauging the back clearance of an automobile or similar vehicle. The parking guide includes a hollow, translucent guide rod, which is movable responsive to a motor within a control box, from a substantially horizontal position, adjacent to the back bumper of the vehicle, to a substantially vertical position, extending upwardly from the corner of the bumper. The guide rod is illuminated by a light within the control box when the rod is in the vertical position, thereby also enabling the rod to be viewed by the driver and used as a guide for parking the automobile, at night.