Abstract: The vehicle mounted soil sampler includes a vertical mast tube connected to a receiver hitch mounted on a vehicle. A support plate is clamped to the mast. A drive shaft and gear, driven by a motor, is journaled in a gear housing mounted on the support plate. An elongated gear rack is parallel to the vertical mast and moved vertically by the drive shaft and gear in the gear housing. A tubular soil probe with an open bottom end and an open slot is attached to the gear rack. A spoon bar is pivotally attached to the mast tube. A spoon bar lower end is urged into the open slot and removes soil from the tubular soil probe during upward movement of the gear rack. A soil sample container catches soil discharged from the soil probe. A plastic guide bearing guides the gear rack.

Abstract: A cover member (20) for a steering wheel mounted air bag module (14) is provided. The cover member (20) includes a horn switch (26) formed by a first conductive layer (30) defining a ground plane, and a second conductive layer (28) for contacting one side of the first conductive layer (30). The cover member (20) further includes a proximity sensor (24) formed by a third conductive layer (32) and a fourth conductive layer (34). The third and fourth conductive layers (32, 34) are electrically associated with the first conductive layer (30), and the proximity sensor (24) generates an electric field (50) in response to a signal received from a driver circuit (48).

Abstract: An weight sensor (16) for use in the crash management system of a motor vehicle's safety restraint system (10). The weight sensor (16) functions to determine the weight of an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat (12) and is mounted between the seat frame (42) and mounting structure (46) of the vehicle seat (12). The weight sensor (16) includes a position sensing unit (52) retained in an enclosed housing assembly (50). The weight of a seat occupant causes a portion (56) of the housing assembly (50) to deflect and the position sensing unit (52) measures the corresponding displacement caused by such deflection. The position sensing unit (52) includes a Hall effect sensor (70) fixed to the rigid portion (54) of the housing assembly (50) and a magnet (74) fixed to the deflectable portion (56) of the housing assembly (50).

Abstract: An optical weight sensor (16) for use in the crash management system of a motor vehicle's safety restraint system (10). The optical weight sensor (16) functions to determine the weight of an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat (12) and is mounted between the seat frame (42) and mounting structure (46) of the vehicle seat (12). The optical weight sensor (16) includes an imaging assembly (52) retained in an enclosed housing assembly (50). The weight of a seat occupant causes a portion (56) of the housing assembly (50) to deflect the imaging assembly (52) generating a change in a reflection angle caused by such deflection. The imaging assembly (52) includes a light emitting unit (70) which emits a light beam onto a target area (78) on housing portion (56) which is subsequently reflected onto a position sensing unit (76).

Abstract: A seat belt buckle (20,20') comprising a frame (22), a locking element (30) movably disposed on the frame and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the frame including a locking element receiving opening (28) to receive the locking element when it is moved to its locked position in response to insertion of the tongue (52) having a mating portion (50) which interacts with the locking element, and non-contacting and direct sensing sensor such as a Hall effect sensor and magnet are provided to sense the presence of the locking element with the receiving opening (28).