Chrysler Corporation

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Other

Chrysler Motors Corporation

Chrysler Group LLC

James E Van Hout

Lee M Dziekan

James P Muccioli

Gilbert L McCauley

Richard Megregian

Richard Kleinhoffer

David J Madaj

Zdzislaw J Skorupa

Walter J Kronner

Michael G Moore

Frank H Klein

Thomas C Slanec

Alexander J Owski

Thomas D Mihelich

Paul L Walker

Paul C Pellerito

John S Latimer, Iii

Lawrence A Warren

Gregory N Corey

Philip A Kuyava

Roland Holloman

Gregory Denomy

Charles T Briggs, Iii

Anthony J Mangiapane

Jack G Mather

Edward Biegas

Narinder Pal Singh

John M Van Hout

Allan Bertrand

Robert E Tilley

Frank R Piatt

David R Baehr

A system for inhibiting deployment of an airbag includes a rollover sensor and a circuit that are enclosed in an enclosure. The enclosure is mounted on a surface that is at a predetermined potential. The circuit detects presence of the predetermined potential when the enclosure is mounted on the surface. The circuit detects absence of the predetermined potential when the enclosure is dismounted from the surface. The circuit inhibits deployment of the airbag when absence of the predetermined potential is detected.

Airbag deployment disabling system

A vehicle battery mounting method and thermal regulation system eliminate seat removal during battery maintenance and costly seat modifications. The thermal regulation system maintains the battery at a desired temperature range to encourage efficient charging and prolonged battery life.

Interior vehicle battery system and method

A battery mounting system includes a bracket mounted to the automobile frame, a battery tray mounted to the bracket, and a battery retention assembly comprising a formed rod spanning the battery and attaching to the bracket, and a top mount molding adapted to distribute the retention force over the upper surface of the battery. The top mount molding has a substantially flat lower surface for contacting the battery, with a cut-out portion for receiving the caps of the battery cells, and an arcuate upper surface with a center receptacle for receiving the spanning rod. The receptacle is formed by a peripheral wall having opposing slots for directing the rod; the wall also has indexing slots for adapting the mounting system to more than one battery height. The molding also includes laterally extending ears at the surface of the battery for centering the molding between upstanding battery posts.

Force distributing top mount battery retention system

In accordance with this invention, a security feature that protects against theft of compact discs (&ldquo;CDs&rdquo;) left in a compact disc player in a vehicle is implemented in a conventional compact disc player that has a CD insertion/ejection servo mechanism, a controller that controls the compact disc player including the insertion/ejection servo mechanism, and an eject switch coupled to the controller. The controller is configured so that it knows the state of the ignition switch, typically from a signal or data from a controller in the vehicle, such as a body controller, engine controller or transmission controller. The controller senses whether the eject switch is actuated when the ignition switch is turned from off to on. Each time that the controller senses that the eject switch is actuated when the ignition switch is turned from off to on, the controller transitions between a security off state and a security on state. When in the security on state, the controller responds to the eject switch being actuated to cause the insertion/ejection servo mechanism to move to the eject position to eject a CD held in the insertion/ejection servo mechanism only if the ignition switch is also on. When in the security off state, the controller will cause the insertion/ejection servo mechanism to move to the eject position to eject a CD when the eject switch is actuated regardless of whether the ignition switch is on or off.

Compact disc player with security system for selectively preventing ejection of a compact disc and related method

A storage compartment mounted to the floor of a motor vehicle under a seat. The compartment is for storing vehicle components such as car batteries. The compartment includes an opening secured by a strap and the strap is held in place by a removable fastener and a passive restraint. The passive restraint is meant to secure the strap when the removable fastener is not in place so that the contents of the compartment may not exit the compartment.

Passive restraint and interlock system for interior mounted removable vehicular components

A battery mounting system is provided which permits use of batteries designed both in accord with European and American battery casing standards. The mounting system utilizes a strap member with a first portion partially bordering a first side of the battery, a second mid-portion extending underneath the battery, a third portion partially bordering a second side of the battery, and a fourth portion providing a support surface which extends lateral away from the battery's second side. The first portion has an end compliantly contacting a first angled surface formed on one side of the battery. The fourth portion supports a movable retainer which has an angled ramp complementary to a similar ramp formed on the fourth portion for engagement together so as to laterally urge the retainer into engagement with a second angled surface on the second side of the battery. A fastener selectively urges the retainer against the fourth portion to thus engage the ramps for moving the retainer laterally into engagement with the battery casing.

Battery mounting system

An antenna apparatus includes electrical contacts which each have a sliding mast contact portion and a docking contact portion. The apparatus includes a linearly extendable and retractable one-piece mast antenna. The sliding mast contact portions of the electrical connectors make contact with an outer surface of the mast antenna along the full length of the antenna as it is extended and retracted. The docking contact portions of each electrical connector make electrical contact only with a lower end portion of the antenna which has a larger diameter than the remainder of the antenna. The docking contact portions of each electrical connector only make electrical contact with the lower end portion when the antenna is substantially completely extended. In this manner the docking contact portions experience only a small degree of the wear experienced by the sliding mast contact portions, which make contact with the outer surface of the antenna along almost its entire length. The docking contact portions of each electrical contact used in the apparatus help ensure that good electrical contact is made with the antenna when the antenna is fully extended.

One piece mast power antenna having electrical contact with sliding and

A system for shielding electromagnetic waves, slowing radiant heat transfer, and attenuating mechanical noise emitted from within an engine compartment and a grommet for establishing an electrically conductive path from a hoodliner's conducting layer to ground. Provided in the present system is a hoodliner that has an electrically conducting material layer for shielding electromagnetic waves, and a fibrous material layer attached to the conducting material for slowing radiant heat transfer and attenuating mechanical noise emitted from the engine compartment.

System for providing electrical ground path and shielding

An arrangement for mounting a joystick wherein a ball having a spherical portion and a frustoconical portion is mounted in a cylindrical socket within a housing. A cap having a frustoconical surface complementing the frustoconical surface of the ball is mounted on the housing. An O-ring engages the spherical surface of the ball and urges the frustoconical surfaces into engagement. When the joystick is tilted relatively far, the spherical surface of the ball engages the frustoconical surface of the cap and retains the joystick in its tilted position; however, when the joystick is in a near-center position and is released, the frustoconical surfaces on the ball and on the cap are in engagement and cause the ball to snap back to the center position. This provides tactile feedback centering for the joystick.

Joystick with detent mechanism for tactile feedback centering

A mounting assembly includes a first plate which is welded to the underside of a trough which channels fluid around the trunk opening of an automotive vehicle. The first plate includes two pockets and two extensions. A second plate, having two blades, is securable to the first plate by inserting the blades into the pockets and screwing the second plate to the first plate at the extensions thereof. Because the extensions extend out beyond the trough, the second plate is secured to the trough without altering the trough. An electrical unit depends from the second plate using two L-shaped brackets which lock to the second plate. The first plate takes up little space when the electrical unit and the second plate are removed therefrom.

Mounting assembly

A system for mounting an audio speaker within an automobile door, in which a bridge is mounted on and extends from a door interior support panel, and has an integral platform spaced from the support panel and surrounding a speaker opening. The body of the audio speaker is received within the bridge speaker opening, and mounting flange tabs on the speaker radially project from the speaker body and are releasably secured to the bridge platform. An exterior trim panel has a lip that surrounds a speaker opening in the trim panel. The trim panel lip is removably secured to the platform radially outwardly of the speaker, such that the trim panel and the speaker are removably secured to the platform independently of each other. A grill is removably secured to the trim panel overlying and enclosing the speaker opening in trim panel, and thus covering both the bridge platform and the speaker.

Audio speaker mounting system with improved mounting and sound isolation

Radio noise in an automotive vehicle is suppressed by grounding the hood of the automotive vehicle with a conductive washer. The conductive washer is concave and is disposed around a rivet used to pivot a hood hinge component to a body hinge component. When the rivet is set, the hinge components compress the washer so as to permanently load the washer to thereby ensure continuous grounding of the hood to the body. Preferably, the rivet is coated with a dry lubricant, such as TEFLON.RTM., which does not flow away from the rivet to interfere with electrical contact between the washer and hinge components.

Grounding washer and arrangements for conductive hinge joints

Automobiles having convertible tops and audio systems are provided with a first audio equalization mode for closed car conditions and a second audio equalization mode for open car conditions. The appropriate audio equalization mode is selected automatically upon raising or lowering the convertible top. In order to minimize inadvertent switching of modes, a timer is included in the system to delay switching from one mode to the other. The timer times a period of about three seconds.

Methods of and systems for speaker equalization in automotive vehicles

Multiple speaker control switch with a liquid crystal display for a

A pre-recorded test tape or test disk which is used to isolate unwanted buzzes in an audio listening environment. The prerecording is a series of varying amplitude frequency sweeps. The frequency sweeps from the audible range of 20 Hz. to 400 Hz., while the amplitude level is set at five different levels. The amplitude of the first sweep is set to the maximum output of the audio system which will give a clean 400 Hz. pre-recorded pallet tone. Each subsequent sweep is 6 dB down from the previous sweep.

Growing community of inventors

Auburn Hills, MI, United States of America

James E Van Hout