Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Mark D Nicholas

Lloyd W Rogers

David E Compeau

William L Priest

Mark Manuel

Prem P Gill

William W Dinnan

Mechanical massaging device incorporated in the back rest of a seat or other supporting equipment that has a pair of cross shafts operatively mounting paired rolling massaging wheels that can be selectively positioned and rotated to produce massaging through suspension fabric on the body of a person supported thereon. The massaging device has three centralized input shafts extending longitudinally within the confines of a cavity in the back rest or other support which are selectively driven by user controlled motors remote from the massaging wheels. The lateral spacing of the massaging wheels as well as their rotation can be adjusted. The massaging wheels can be selectively positioned at an infinitely number of vertical positions within the cavity to provide massaging action for enhancing the supply of blood to supported body areas under pressure of body weight. The device includes a mechanism for varying massage pressure and the massaging wheels and associated components can be moved to an out of way position when inactivated. A thigh massaging unit in a seat is also disclosed.

Support structure for humans and massaging mechanism therefor

A sliding door in a van is mounted on tracks for sliding movement between open and closed positions. At the closed position a weather strip is compressed and a door latch is latched. A cable is attached to the door and routed through the vehicle body via pulleys so that pulling the first cable end opens the door and pulling the second cable end closes the door. A motorized drive mechanism includes first and second reels mounted concentrically and having the cable ends wrapped respectively about the reels in opposite directions. A motor drives in one direction rotating the first reel to open the door and is reversible to rotate the second reel to close the door. Each of the reels has a large diameter portion for winding the cable to provide relatively high speed and low force door movement over the greatest portion of travel and a small diameter portion for winding the cable to provide relatively low speed and high force movement of the door during the lesser portion of travel of the door closest to the closed position. The reels have cable set grooves to receive the cable and a spiral ramp groove to connect the large and small diameter portions. A tension retaining spring acts between the two reels to always maintain the cable under tension.

Power sliding door closer

A sliding door in a van is mounted on tracks for sliding movement between open and closed positions. At the closed position a weather strip is compressed and a door latch is latched. A cable is attached to the door and routed through the vehicle body via pulleys so that pulling the first cable end opens the door and pulling the second cable end closes the door. A motorized drive mechanism includes first and second reels mounted concentrically and having the cable ends wrapped respectively about the reels in opposite directions. A motor drives in one direction rotating the first reel to open the door and is reversible to rotate the second reel to close the door. Each of the reels has a large diameter portion for winding the cable to provide relatively high speed and low force door movement over the greatest portion of travel and a small diameter portion for winding the cable to provide relatively low speed and high force movement of the door during the lesser portion of travel of the door closest to the closed position. The reels have cable seat grooves to receive the cable and a spiral ramp groove to connect the large and small diameter portions. A tension retaining spring acts between the two reels to always maintain the cable under tension.

Growing community of inventors

Mt. Clemens, MI, United States of America

Mark D Nicholas