Chrysler Corporation

Dennis L Peters

Jack H Atabak

Saad M Abouzahr

Kenneth J Ladzinski

James B Martin

Timothy Marion

Robert A Chaney

Andrea Sjue

A universal slider bushing includes an inner body within an outer body. The inner body has a convex spherical segment. The outer body has a concave spherical segment or socket supporting the convex spherical segment for universal movement. The inner body has a central through-passage. A ball bearing supports a shaft in the passage for longitudinal sliding movement and for rotation about its longitudinal axis.

Universal slider bushing

A method and apparatus for reducing side impact forces in a body-on-frame vehicle includes a plurality of impact reducing members connected between the body and the frame of the body-on-frame vehicle. One embodiment of the impact reduction member includes a flexible cord preferably constructed from polymer fibers. The cord is looped around a portion of the frame and a portion of the body. Another embodiment comprises a self-securing polymer sleeve. The impact reducing members further may be protected by a sheath. Connecting members for connecting the impact reducing members to the frame include an arm and a plurality of bolts connecting the arm to the frame. The impact reducing members reduce the side impact forces during a collision.

Method and apparatus to reduce side impact forces

A vehicle spare tire hanger arrangement comprises an elongated carrier member suspended from the vehicle by together with first and second holding rods depending from the vehicle underside for storing either a minimum or a maximum thickness spare tire substantially horizontally therebelow. The carrier member comprises a main tire support portion having first and second connectors adjacent each end thereof with each connector offset a predetermined dimension from one side of the main support portion. The first holding rod lower end is attached to the first end connector by a universal hinge assembly enabling the carrier member, upon release of the second holding rod from the second connector, to be pivoted about a transverse horizontal axis from a horizontal tire stowage position to a downwardly angled tire removal position. The universal hinge assembly enables the operator to rotate the downwardly angled carrier member about its longitudinally extending axis of rotation, which includes the end connectors, between a pair of tire stowage modes. In one mode, the end connectors are oriented below the main support portion such that a minimum thickness tire is adapted to be supported on one side of the main support portion. To attain the other tire stowage mode, the universal hinge assembly is unlocked and the carrier member rotated 180 degrees wherein the end connectors are oriented above the main support portion enabling a maximum thickness tire to be supported on the opposite side thereof.

Spare tire stowage arrangement

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Dearborn Heights, MI, United States of America

Dennis L Peters